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Terns Pharmaceuticals

tern · LSE Healthcare
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FY2018 Annual Report · Terns Pharmaceuticals
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Report & 
Accounts

For the year ended 
31 December 2018

27/28 Eastcastle Street 
London W1W 8DH

e: info@ternplc.com
t: 020 3807 0222
ternplc.com

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Company Information

DIRECTORS

Ian Ritchie 
Albert Sisto 
Sarah Payne 
Bruce Leith 
Alan Howarth 
Richard Turner (resigned 15 January 2018) 

SECRETARY

Sarah Payne 

REGISTERED OFFICE

27/28 Eastcastle Street 
London  
W1W 8DH 

COMPANY’S REGISTERED NUMBER

5131386 

AUDITOR

NOMINATED ADVISER AND JOINT BROKER

JOINT BROKER

REGISTRARS

BANKERS

CORPORATE LAWYERS

Grant Thornton UK LLP 
30 Finsbury Square 
London 
EC2A 1AG 

Allenby Capital Limited 
5 St. Helen’s Place 
London 
EC3A 6AB 

Whitman Howard Limited 
1-3 Mount Street 
London 
W1K 3NB 

Share Registrars Limited 
The Courtyard 
17 West Street 
Farnham  
Surrey 
GU9 7DR 

Handelsbanken 
5th Floor 
13 Charles II Street 
London 
SW1Y 4QU 

Reed Smith 
The Broadgate Tower 
20 Primrose Street 
London  
EC2A 2RS

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1

Highlights of 2018

• New investment made in IoT business: FVRVS Limited (“FundamentalVR”) 

• Notable commercial success in portfolio including new customer contracts for Device Authority Limited 
(“DA”)  and  a  development  agreement  signed  by  FundamentalVR  with  the  Mayo  Clinic,  USA.  DA, 
FundamentalVR and InVMA Limited all continued to grow their revenues 

• Year-on-year  turnover  of  principal  portfolio  companies  from  2017  to  2018  increased  by  58% 

(2016 to 2017: 126%) 

• Year-on-year increase in employees within principal portfolio companies from 2017 to 2018 was 52% 

(2016 to 2017: 55%) 

• Placing in July 2018 to raise £2.9 million before expenses, brought total fundraising in 2018 to £6 million 

before expenses (excluding funds secured through convertible loan note)

Net asset value increased, overheads kept under control 

31 December 

Total Assets

Net Assets

(Loss)/profit after tax

Contents

Company Information 

1 Highlights of 2018 

2 About Tern 

3 Chairman’s Statement 

4 CEO’s Statement 

2018
£’000

17,009

16,752

(313)

2017
£’000

11,069

10,581

(1,690)

2016 
£’000 

11,465 

11,188 

5,297

26 Corporate Governance and Compliance 

29 Report on Directors’ Remuneration 

30 Independent Auditor’s Report 

34 Income Statement and Statement of  

Comprehensive Income 

8 Our Markets 

35 Statement of Financial Position 

13 Strategic Report 

36 Statement of Changes in Equity 

18 Investment Report 

37 Statement of Cash Flows 

22 Board of Directors 

38 Notes to the Financial Statements 

23 Directors’ Report 

58 Notice of 2019 Annual General Meeting

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2

About Tern

Tern PLC is an AIM listed investment company focused on providing investors with an 
opportunity to capitalise on the rapid growth of  the Internet of  Things (“IoT”) market.  

IoT  adoption  is  expected  to  underpin  a  significant  technological  revolution. 
According to Bain & Company in August 2018, the market is anticipated to grow 
from USD 235 billion in 2017 to USD 520 billion in 2021.   

Tern takes long term influential interests in early stage businesses which provide 
commercial  IoT  solutions  to  the  industrial  and  healthcare  sectors.  It  looks  for 
companies with an established product or platform, robust intellectual property 
and market validation. 

Tern  takes  a  proactive  role  in 
creating  value  by  improving 
capital  efficiencies,  building 
sales  models  and  developing 
global  marketing  strategies.  It 
takes  equity  positions,  offers 
support  and  mentoring  in  all 
to 
areas  of  
maximise  net  asset  value 
creation. This approach creates 
a collaborative environment for 
its  portfolio  companies  which 
promotes faster growth.

the  company 

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3

Chairman’s Statement 
For the year ended 31 December 2018

continue to build and diversify our portfolio of IoT 

 “We look forward to another year of growth as we 
companies.” 

In my second year as your non-executive Chairman I am pleased to report the continuing progress that we have made 
in growing our exciting portfolio of companies in the Internet of Things (“IoT”) sector. 

This year has seen us make a new investment in FundamentalVR (FVRVS Limited), a company which revolutionises 
surgical training, practice, insight and measurement through its leading global Software as a Service (“SaaS”) immersive 
simulation platform for medical and surgical education. We have also increased our investment in InVMA Limited, which 
has further diversified our portfolio, and although Device Authority Limited remains our most significant holding, we 
have reduced its impact compared to 2017 and we expect to do so further in 2019. 

Our management team has continued to work closely with our portfolio companies, providing operational support to 
give our investee companies a head-start in their plans to launch, to scale, to secure further funding and ultimately 
maximise returns on an eventual realisation. 

I would like to thank the Executive team on behalf of our shareholders for their hard work over the year.  

I look forward to another year of growth as we continue to build and diversify our portfolio in this exciting and fast 
growing market. 

Ian Ritchie 
Chairman 

18 March 2019

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4

CEO’s Statement 
For the year ended 31 December 2018

 “2018 has been a significant year for 

Tern, following our strategic transition. 
We added an exciting new business to 
our portfolio and all our investments 
have improved performance with a 
number of individually important 

strategic transactions.” 

Turning  to  our  trading  performance,  in  2018  we 
recognised a loss for the year of £0.3 million, compared 
to a loss of £1.7 million in 2017. As our investment in DA 
is based upon a US dollar value per share, the weakening 
of the pound resulted in a £0.4 million exchange rate gain 
compared to a £0.8 million exchange rate loss in 2017. 
We  maintained  the  US  dollar  valuation  of  DA.  Our 
administrative expenses were comparable to last year, 
reflecting a decrease in legal fees that was offset by other 
professional  fees  as  we  added  new  companies  to  our 
portfolio.  Directors’  fees  increased  as  the  scope  of 
responsibilities  expanded  and  time  commitment  to  the 
company  increased.  Our  remaining  expenses  were 
broadly flat. The Directors believe that 2019 will provide 
good opportunities for NAV growth. We anticipate this to 
be achieved via the business expansion of our portfolio 
companies, additional equity investments by third parties 
into our portfolio companies and one or more investments 
in new portfolio companies. 

Investment Focus and Philosophy 
At Tern,  we  see  the  size,  potential  and  promise  of  the 
Internet  of  Things  (“IoT”)  market  as  an  opportunity  to 
create shareholder value through investments in early-
stage  companies,  by  providing  products  and  services 
associated with the IoT. Today, businesses are investing 
in cloud-based services and analytics, to make it easier 
and simpler to understand the performance of a product 
or  a  service  offered  that  is  IoT-enabled.  Also,  it  will 
become  increasingly  seamless  to  gather  real-time 
information so new products and services can be created. 
We  believe  that  there  are  still  challenges  for  the  IoT 
market. The first is related to interoperability and the lack 
of a common connection layer. Many devices don’t ‘speak’ 
using a common protocol to applications that rely on data 
being gathered, making the application design difficult and 
the data vulnerable. The second challenge is the inbound 
and outbound scale issue around device management, 
data collection, data storage and data analytics. We seek 
to invest in companies that address these issues. 

I am pleased to report a year of substantial progress at 
Tern  plc  (“Tern”)  following  the  transformation  of  our 
investment  strategy  from  taking  long  term  controlling 
interests in businesses to focusing on an influential role. 
Tern provides investors with the opportunity to capitalise 
on  the  growth  of  IoT.  We  are  building  momentum  and 
experiencing  increased  deal  flow  due  to  our  ability  to 
deploy our capital across a wider number of opportunities 
and reduce the potential reserve capital requirements as 
the investee company evolves. As a result, Tern is now 
working to build a broader base of high potential, value-
creating  portfolio  companies  with  many  opportunities 
being presented to us by other venture and risk capital 
investors. 

the  portfolio, 

Overview 
Our  investee  companies  continued  to  improve  their 
performance  with  some  notable  commercial  progress 
within 
including  FVRVS  Limited 
(“FundamentalVR”) securing an agreement with the Mayo 
Clinic in the USA and Device Authority (“DA”) securing a 
contract with 3D Systems to provide robust IoT security for 
3D printers. At the corporate level, Tern completed several 
significant funding transactions which strengthened our 
balance  sheet.  During  2018,  the  company  raised 
approximately £6 million in new capital, in addition to the 
funds  secured  through  the  convertible  loan  note,  each 
placement progressing with more favourable economics. 
The last placement in July 2018 raised approximately £2.9 
million before expenses. This fund raising demonstrates 
the benefit of our public listing and the flexibility it gives our 
balance  sheet  for  funding  the  development  of  exciting 
growth businesses. The funds raised during 2018 enabled 
the  company  to  expand  its  portfolio  by  investing  in 
disruptive high-growth IoT businesses and the gross total 
invested  capital,  as  at  31  December  2018,  stood  at 
£13.4 million. This includes our first investment in an IoT 
data analytics company, FundamentalVR, combined with 
several reinvestments into our existing portfolio resulting 
in  a  growth  in  our  hard  net  asset  value  (“NAV”)  to 
£16.8 million, up 58% from £10.6 million in 2017. This fits 
with our strategy to deliver NAV growth for shareholders. 

 
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5

CEO’s Statement 
For the year ended 31 December 2018

To solve these challenges requires the development of 
new commercial ecosystems to create a demand for firms 
that can manage different aspects of the technologies and 
capabilities that will be essential to the development of 
the IoT. 

The IoT market is growing rapidly and is maturing and 
segmenting  into  specific  verticals.  Tern  has  refined  its 
investment philosophy to address this change, with the 
goal of realising faster revenue growth and market share 
gains within our portfolio, to ultimately result in increased 
value. We have expanded our investment criteria beyond 
companies  who  are 
IoT 
enablement, and IoT analytics with a narrower scope, to 
companies  who  provide  commercial  solutions  to  the 
healthcare industry and industrial use cases where safety 
and 
important  market 
requirements. 

regulatory  compliance  are 

IoT  security, 

targeting 

We believe that this will accelerate our development of a 
synergistic  portfolio  in  which  our  companies  can  work 
together, learn from each other’s market experiences and 
share industry connections. These market segments are 
global, speak a common language, have a large installed 
base of devices and are investing in all areas of IoT to 
create better products, customer satisfaction and patient 
outcomes. 

Through our network, our website and attendance at IoT 
events, we saw many interesting companies during 2018 
with a variety of business models and innovations focused 
on  the  IoT.  The  UK  technology  market  continues  to 
support our thesis that local UK entrepreneurs can and 
are  creating  companies  with  unique  IoT  products  that 
satisfy  our  investment  requirements  and  have  global 
potential.  Our  approach  remains  the  same;  select  the 
most  promising  companies  with  strong  teams  and 
disruptive ideas targeting large market opportunities. We 
then  use  our  experience  to  invest  in  those  companies 
where we not only deliver funding, but also operational 
support  and  access  to  our  network,  particularly  in  the 
United States. This helps to grow and scale our portfolio 
and  aid  our  companies  achieve  their  ambitions.  In 
addition,  by  taking  a  Board  seat,  we  can  apply  our 
expertise  beyond  the  original  investment  decision, 
supporting  companies  into  fulfilling  their  potential  for 
growth  and  market  leadership  and  driving  strong  exit 
multiples.  This  creates  a  valuable  network  for  the 
companies,  focused  on  collaboration  and  commercial 
development. 

We believe that Tern is well positioned to provide investors 
access to high-growth private technology companies that 
they  wouldn’t  otherwise  be  able  to  source  or  invest  in 
directly.  

the  management  of  our 

Portfolio Progress 
In 2018, the Tern team and our business partners worked 
extensively  with 
investee 
companies  as  we  looked  to  improve  performance  and 
accelerate growth. We supported a refinement of the go-to-
market models of our companies to reflect a more narrowed 
focus on healthcare and specific areas of industrial IoT. We 
also  hosted  several  CEO  round-tables  to  help  leverage 
synergies to drive business expansion and success. 

Device Authority Limited (“DA”) 
2018  was  a  transitional  year  for  DA.  The  company 
continued to expand its ecosystem of partners, which is a 
critical component of their go-to-market strategy, although 
we were disappointed by the delay in generating revenue 
during the first half of the year. DA did secure additional 
working capital of $2.9 million between November 2017 
and December 2018 from its investor group, Alsop Louie 
Partners, George Samenuk and the Company, through a 
convertible loan note facility to execute its business plan, 
this enabled the development of blockchain support, key 
Thingworx interfaces and cloud platforms for AWS and 
Azure. DA also solved several critical product issues and 
introduced many new product enhancements to improve 
product market fit, particularly for the Healthcare market 
segment.  As  a  result,  proof  of  concept  (“POC”)  time 
frames shortened and the company began securing new 
contracts in the second half of the year.  

We also believe the concentrating of DA’s primary market 
focus to healthcare and high value industrial IoT has and will 
continue to improve their commercial success. For example, 
the global IoT medical devices market is projected to reach 
USD 63.43 billion by 2023 from USD 20.59 billion in 2018, 
at a CAGR of 25.2% during the forecast period1. While the 
healthcare industry can benefit tremendously from the IoT, 
a number of stringent security, compliance and operational 
complexities  need  to  be  addressed  for  this  market. 
Maintaining the privacy of patient records is paramount to 

1 https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/iot-medical-device-market-15629287.html

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6

CEO’s Statement 
For the year ended 31 December 2018

healthcare as it is to protecting the intellectual property of 
products and processes for industry. The first requirement is 
to  have  strong  mutual  authentication  between  devices, 
applications and users. The second is to ensure the sensitive 
information  flows  all  the  way  from  source  to  destination, 
encrypted to meet the compliance requirements such as 
HIPAA and EU GDPR. DA’s KeyScaler platform is ideally 
suited to meet these challenges. 

Tern, in its role as Board advisor, worked with DA to address 
the issues under its control and as the company enters 2019, 
we believe the product and POC issues have been tackled. 
This  has  been  reflected  by  the  company’s  commercial 
traction and announcement in December 2018 that it had 
secured a five-year contract with a leading medical device 
manufacturer, which has an anticipated value to DA of in 
excess of $1 million over the life of the contract.  

Sales wins achieved in the fourth quarter will begin shipping 
in volumes during 2019 and we believe that this will form 
the corner-stone of sustainable commercial success. 

FVRVS Limited (“FundamentalVR”) 
During 2018, Tern was excited to have the opportunity to 
invest in FundamentalVR, a leading Virtual Reality (“VR”) 
training  and  data  analysis 
technology  platform. 
FundamentalVR is led by surgical training experts and 
leading  technologists  with  a  mission  to  revolutionise 
surgical training by bringing simulation into the hands of 
medical professionals around the world, using low cost, 
easily accessible technology. FundamentalVR’s unique 
software platform takes advantage of readily available VR 
software  and  devices,  such  as  the  Facebook  owned 
Oculus Rift, and combines it with cutting edge haptics to 
create  a  simulation  system  that  can  be  used  on  any 
modern PC set up. Using computer learning, the software 
platform works together with haptic hardware devices to 
simulate the physical sensation of operating on human 
tissue.  It  also  has  the  capability  to  provide  artificial 
intelligence (“AI”) driven real-time feedback, procedure 
correction data and best practice insight. The result is a 
simulation  system  that  provides  surgeons  with  a  more 
hands-on experience to be better prepared professionals, 
resulting in better patient outcomes. 

FundamentalVR’s goal is to transform the way surgeons 
prepare, practice and refine their skills. The company has 
built  an  immersive,  surgical  simulation  application 
platform,  Fundamental  Surgery,  to  provide  medical 
professionals with the opportunity to rehearse, practice 
and test themselves within a safe, controllable space that 
is as close to real life as possible. Additionally, this same 
platform enables healthcare companies, to create a new 
way to develop, train and measure the introduction of new 
medical devices and drug delivery systems to surgeons 
in a safe and repeatable way.  

The cost of medical care and mistakes continues to grow 
across the globe, with the industry lacking an effective 
practice  and  rehearsal  solution  and  quality  data  on 
medical  and  surgical  capability,  which  Fundamental 
Surgery can now provide.  

During 2018, Tern made two direct investments totalling 
£1.9  million  into  FundamentaVR,  our  second  following 
FundamentalVR’s  signing  of  a  three  year  term  joint 
development  agreement  with  the  Mayo  Foundation  for 
Medical Education and Research (“the Mayo Clinic”), the 
U.S. leading academic medical centre, which will see the 
two  parties  collaborating  on  a  range  of  simulation  and 
education products with an initial focus on the general 
surgery  area.  Additionally,  the  current  release  of  the 
Fundamental Surgery platform is now live in the Mayo 
Clinic’s  world-renowned  simulation  centres  located  in 
Rochester, Arizona and Florida. 

InVMA Limited (“InVMA”) 
InVMA continued to make progress during the year. Since 
our initial investment in 2017, we have seen the business 
grow its revenue year on year in 2018 compared to 2017, 
with ten new customer engagements including important wins 
at  industrial  leaders  like  ESAB  (part  of  Colefax),  Bernard 
Matthews, GKN and Kohler Mira. Also, their new partnership 
with  DMS,  a  UK  industrial  maintenance  company,  has 
generated more than a dozen AssetMinder opportunities with 
important wins at Yorkshire Water and JLR. 

AssetMinder is a strategic product for InVMA as it builds 
on  the  trend  within  the  Industrial  IoT  (“IIoT”)  to  use 
intelligent sensors to connect and collect important data 
to  create  a  proactive  performance  and  maintenance 
strategy for assets. AssetMinder allows companies across 
all industries to monitor and manage critical equipment 
and resources from the data gathered and to generate 
alerts to intervene and protect their operations from costly 
down-time  and  potential  costly  catastrophic  outcomes. 
The  AssetMinder  product  is  positioned  in  the  Remote 
Monitoring and Control Market which is estimated to be 
growing at a CAGR of 4.47% and is expected to be valued 
at USD 27.11 billion by 20232.

2 Remote  Monitoring  and  Control  Market  by  Solutions  (SCADA  and  Emergency  Shutdown  System),  Field  Instruments  (Pressure  Transmitter, 
Temperature Transmitter, Humidity Transmitter, Level Transmitter, Flowmeter), Industry and Region-Global Forecast to 2023 published by Markets and 
Markets (TM)

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7

CEO’s Statement 
For the year ended 31 December 2018

During  2018,  InVMA,  with  the  support  of  the  Tern 
investment director, acquired the intellectual property and 
other  assets  from  AMIHO  Technology  of  Cambridge. 
AMIHO Technology was founded in 2009 to solve difficult 
environmental logistical problems of remote connectivity 
for  smart  sensors  and  data  collection  gateways,  for 
example,  smart  meters  in  the  energy  industry.  Their 
intellectual property is a series of wireless radio frequency 
modules, specifically, long range (“LoRa”) and meter-bus 
(“MBus”)  protocols,  stand-alone  protocol  stacks  and 
evaluation kits. Prior to its acquisition, the product suite 
achieved commercial success and is currently installed in 
over 250,000 smart meters in Eastern Europe. We believe 
these products add to the design service capabilities of 
InVMA to help customers integrate the technology into 
their products and to the many facets of our other portfolio 
companies  where 
is  a 
requirement.  

IoT  connectivity 

robust 

flexiOPS Limited (“flexiOPS”) 
2018 has proved to be a pivotal year for flexiOPS. We 
originally believed that the business could have been a 
source of valuable technology expertise to assist current 
and future Tern portfolio companies. Unfortunately, the 
company  has  been  seriously  affected  by  the  political 
situation in Europe and the UK and its ability to participate 
in European grants and therefore the company decided 
to exit that part of its business. They are now focusing on 
IoT  mesh  networking  assets  and 
the  company’s 
expanding  its  mission  following  the  purchase  of  a 
controlling interest in Wyld Technologies Limited (“Wyld 
Technologies”), a mesh networking company in 2017. 

During 2018, as part of its expanded role and mission, 
Wyld  began  expanding  its  product  platform  base  by 
developing the application, thus enabling Wyld Fusion to 
support  the  adoption  and  use  of  their  Wyld  Mesh 
networking  product.  Wyld  Fusion  allows  devices  and 
people to receive individual or aggregated data from an 
application, or series of applications, in real time. Wyld 
Fusion delivers timely, actionable information across the 
mesh to the right people, things and locations, securely. 
It  enables  informed  business  decisions  and  reduces 
operational  risk  (real  time  data  selection)  with  a  high 
degree of flexibility and complexity. As an outcome from 
this  expansion  of  the  Wyld  Technologies’  mission  in 
flexiOPS, we believe Wyld Mesh, with Wyld Fusion, will 
enable  flexiOPS  to  offer  a  Content  Delivery  Network 
combining  real-time  data  streaming  with  our  powerful 
device-to-device mesh network. 

Their  vision  is  to  make  Wyld  software  the  platform  of 
choice for large enterprise companies, governments and 
smart cities to leverage the power of crowds to automate 
and  accelerate  their  tailored  messaging  in  large  retail 
facilities and large entertainment venues, in response to 
critical events in what are typically challenging and hostile 
environments. 

Subsequent  to  the  year  end,  the  AMIHO  Technology 
assets were purchased by flexiOPS from InVMA to form 
a  new  compelling  proposition  in  the  IoT  embedded 
communications  industry  and  flexiOPS  was  renamed 
Wyld Networks Limited. 

Summary 
The investment portfolio made good progress in 2018, 
leaving Tern well positioned for 2019 and beyond. I would 
like  to  thank  our  staff,  business  partners  and  portfolio 
companies for their commitment and contribution to this 
positive performance. As ever, I would also like to extend 
the  Board’s  thanks  to  all  our  stakeholders  for  their 
continued support. With a larger and maturing portfolio 
and  an  expanded  pipeline  of  opportunities,  we  look  to 
2019 with continued confidence. 

Albert Sisto  
CEO 

18 March 2019

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8

Our Markets

Overview 

The  Internet  of  Things  is  widely  recognised  as  a 
transforming market, that is upending traditional practices, 
creating  new  high-value,  business  practices,  and 
delivering  previously  unavailable  efficiencies  and 
capabilities, across a wide range of industries. Many have 
referred to it as the Next Industrial Revolution. 

The  adoption  of  the  IoT  turns  previously  “dumb” 
stand-alone devices into networks of “smart” connected 
devices that provide real-time information related to their 
activities, and simultaneously receive real-time operating 
instructions  based  on  the  rapid  processing  of  the 
information these devices collect and report. 

The applications of the IoT cut across a wide range of 
industries. As with all technology-based transformations, 
the IoT is expected to have a greater impact on specific 
industries, and the timing of this impact varies by industry 
and regulatory requirements. 

Forecast of  total IoT device installation base1  

The IoT Ecosystem 

The IoT ecosystem is composed of five areas: 

1. Hardware  (the  IoT  devices  themselves  in  any 

installation or solution);  

2. Communication  Networks  (that  connect  the  IoT 

implementation to the user);  

3. Remotes 

(such  as 

tablets,  or 
smartphones, that provide users with the interface for 
connecting  with  IoT  devices  and  managing  their 
activities);  

computers, 

4. Platforms and Application Enablement (which provide 
the  messaging,  data  analytics,  data  storage,  and 
customised services associated with IoT solutions); 
and 

5. Security protocols (which protect IoT implementations 

from outside intrusion). 

1 Business Insider Intelligence, 2019

In  2017,  we  indicated  that  management  had  focused 
Tern’s  investment  activities  on  areas  within  the  IoT 
ecosystem: IoT security, data analytics and enablement.  

Our work in 2018, reinforced our belief in the opportunities 
associated with these three areas, and their potential to 
rapidly create shareholder value. We initially focused on 
these three areas because of common characteristics. In 
2018, we further refined our investment criteria, to focus 
on  firms  whose  businesses  possess  the  attributes 
listed below:  

• Customers  who  will  typically  require  continuously 
upgraded applications, security and device capabilities;  

• When the software solutions meet customer needs, 

the businesses can rapidly scale their services; 

• Successful  solutions  realise  sustained,  competitive 
advantage  by  meeting  evolving  customer  needs 
through the ability to deliver continuously upgraded 
solutions; 

• Where customers are satisfied, the disruptive nature 
of switching suppliers will minimise the impact of new 
competitive entrants; and 

• Successful firms offer low capital requirements with 
high ROIs, particularly when compared to hardware-
based aspects of the IoT ecosystem. 

Augmented Reality, Enablement and Data Analytics 

As IoT technologies have evolved, they are increasingly 
merging with high-value applications of augmented reality. 
Tern’s  management  identified  the  significance  of  this 
emerging  trend,  as  a  natural  extension  of  the  value 
created by the IoT. Through augmented reality, insights 
created through IoT-derived data can be translated into 
actionable  diagnosis,  operating  scenarios  can  be 
effectively investigated in new ways, and remote activities 
can  be  performed  by  less  highly  skilled  technicians, 
guided by highly skilled experts located in entirely different 
geographies.  From  this  perspective,  high-value  IoT 
applications of augmented reality appear both as services 
that enable the implementation of the IoT and as services 
within data analytics; as platforms that make sense of IoT 
derived  data  and  as  platforms  that,  like  other  IoT 
implementations, generate new types of high-value data. 

Tern’s Refined Investment Focus 

The IoT market is rapidly advancing and with this new 
maturity, Tern continues to review its approach to portfolio 
development.  Over  the  past  year,  management  has 
refined  our  primary  investment  criteria  to  businesses 
providing software solutions in these three areas of IoT 
ecosystem, with a focus in two areas: Healthcare and the 
Industrial  Internet  of   Things  (“IIoT”)  in  high  value 
manufacturing.  

 
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Our Markets

refined 

This 
investment  criteria  aligns  with  a 
well-recognised pattern associated with the introduction 
of a new, transforming technology. Initial uses focus on 
areas  that  generate  immediate  value. Then,  new  uses 
build  on  the  experience  of  these  initial  applications, 
reflecting increases in sophistication, and evolving to meet 
the specialised needs of large market segments, which 
may be defined by specific industries (such as healthcare) 
or specific high value functions that cut across multiple 
industries (such as the IIoT). 

Now, although the IoT is still evolving, its rapid growth has 
created 
large  opportunities  within  specific  market 
segments, and the need for specialised solutions to fill the 
unique needs of these sectors.  

As  growth  of  the  IoT  accelerates,  the  need  for  IoT 
capabilities offering different types of security solutions, 
data  and  predictive  analytics,  and  enablement  also 
increases, in order to meet the evolving needs of high 
growth market segments. The high growth markets are 
being targeted by governments seeking to improve their 
services  and  large  enterprises  looking  to  leverage  the 
benefits created by the IoT. 

• A particularly critical and mandated need for security 

solutions; 

•

The transforming value of data analytics; 

• The need for flawless implementation for safety and 

quality; 

• A high value potential with pricing power and value, to 
increase efficiency with significant cost-savings; and 

• A bias toward identifiable, high value applications that 

combine augmented reality and the IoT. 

Notably, Intel projects that by 2025, the total global worth 
of IoT technology could be as much as USD 6.2 trillion, 
most  of  the  value  coming  from  devices  in  healthcare 
(USD 2.5 trillion) and manufacturing (USD 2.3 trillion). 

Healthcare 

Market size and anticipated growth: The transforming 
value of the IoT in healthcare is widely recognised, and 
the  coming  years  are  expected  to  be  marked  by 
high-growth  and  a  wide  range  of  new,  IoT-enabled 
capabilities. According to Grandview Research, the global 
IoT healthcare market was valued at USD 120 billion in 
2017, will grow at a CAGR of 20.2%, and reach a global 
market size of USD 524 billion in 20252.  

IoT 

The Rapid Creation of Entirely New Digital Business 
Models: The IoT creates fundamentally new opportunities 
for  the  creation  of  businesses  that  monitor,  treat,  and 
manage the health of patients. IoT devices, often called 
“connected  care”  are  at  the  heart  of  capabilities  to 
remotely monitor and treat a wide range of the high risk 
and chronic illness patients that account for a significant 
portion  of  current  healthcare  spending.  Via  remote 
monitoring,  smart 
recognise 
deteriorating patient health, and provide for interventions 
before the occurrence of acute events; thereby improving 
health outcomes and reducing overall healthcare costs. 
At the same time, for chronic illnesses and other diseases, 
connected care devices provide real-time information on 
patient  health,  intelligently  change  the  medication 
administered to patients (such as those using an infusion 
pump) and advise chronic care patients (such as those 
with  diabetes)  on  changes  in  their  health  status  and 
potentially  provide 
for  ongoing 
improvement. 

intelligent  advice 

implementations 

Notably, the real-time information collected via connected 
care devices will provide doctors and researchers  with 
previously unavailable information on patient health over 
time. As a result, data analytics will inevitably lead to a 
greater  understanding  of  the  effectiveness  of  specific 
treatments and the likelihood of dangerous acute events. 

Tern’s Market Segment Focus 

Tern’s sharpened focus on two market segments within 
the IoT, healthcare and the IIoT, reflect criteria that are 
common to both areas, and which management believes 
provide unique opportunities for portfolio company growth 
and  investment  in  new  opportunities  to  provide  for  the 
rapid creation of shareholder value. The market segments 
of interest to Tern are characterised by: 

• A  significant  established  market  size  today,  with 

anticipated high growth; 

• The  rapid  creation  of  entirely  new  digitally  based 
businesses  or  the  significant  recreation  of  existing 
business processes with unique intellectual property 
(IP); 

2 Grandview Market Research, Internet of  Things (IoT) in Healthcare  
Market  Size,  Share  &  Trends  Analysis  Report  By  End  Use,  By   
Component, By Connectivity Technology (Cellular, Wi-Fi, Satellite), By 
Application, And Segment Forecasts, 2018 – 2025 (November, 2018). 

 
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Our Markets

A  Particularly  High  Need  for  Security  Solutions: 
Healthcare requires a higher level of security than other 
IoT implementations for several reasons: First, healthcare 
devices which adjust medication in real-time, or remotely 
monitor  patients  with  acute  illnesses,  require  effective 
security to ensure patient safety. If a third-party were able 
to gain control of devices of this type, patient safety could 
be compromised, through the generation of false readings 
or dangerous commands associated with the medication 
being  dispensed.  Second,  a  range  of  government 
regulations  are  designed  to  ensure  the  privacy  of 
individuals  receiving  treatment  and  the  safety  of  the 
treatments  involved.  For  example,  HIPAA  (the  Health 
Insurance Privacy and Accountability Act) in the United 
States  demands  a  level  of  data  privacy  that  is  rarely 
required, by law, in other industries. 

Within  hospital  and  healthcare  settings,  the  overall 
security  of  IoT  devices  is  recognised  as  a  paramount 
concern. This reflects the unique nature of hospitals and 
other healthcare settings, with a large number of new and 
returning patients, doctors and other practitioners (who 
may not be employees) caring for patients and utilising an 
extraordinary  range  of  IoT  devices,  and  the  needs  of 
networks  to  accommodate  the  real-time  exchange  of 
information on these networks. For IoT device security, 
the multilayered approach, such as that offered by DA, to 
ensure ongoing device security is generally recognised as 
a  “Best  Practice3”  providing  management  with  high 
confidence in the value of DA moving forward. 

A Transforming Value with Data Analytics: Healthcare 
systems  across  the  globe  share  several  inter-linked 
objectives: to improve healthcare outcomes, reduce costs, 
reduce the burden of care on the medical system, and 
drive  the  development  of  improved  therapies  and 
procedures, which range from the treatment of chronic 
illnesses  and  other  diseases,  to  shorter  time  from 
diagnosis to recovery, to reduced errors. In healthcare the 
role  of  data  analytics  is  central  to  achieving  these 

objectives. The capture of information, associated with 
connected  care  and  other  IoT  devices,  enables  the 
development  of  new  standards  of  care,  greater 
personalisation of care, and analyses that will deepen our 
ability  to  develop  new  therapies,  enhance  existing 
treatments,  and  reduce  medical  errors.  To  summarise, 
data analytics has the potential to drive a revolution in 
medicine. In fact, one market research firm anticipates 
that by 2025, healthcare will account for over 70 percent 
of the market for global analytics software4. For example, 
using the FundamentalVR platform, surgical performance 
data provides invaluable insight into surgical capability, 
preference and performance with many potential market 
applications. 

The  Need  for  Flawless  Implementation:  To  ensure 
patient safety, healthcare implementations of the IoT must 
be flawless. The failure of a healthcare-related IoT device 
could  compromise  patient  safety  and  health,  create 
potential governmental scrutiny, lead to civil liability and 
(depending on the scope of the error or failure) threaten 
the ongoing viability of the business deploying the poorly 
implemented solution. 

The  High-Value  of  New  Efficiencies:  The  increasing 
cost  of  healthcare,  particularly  in  the  United  States,  is 
creating  a  business  environment  that  is  aggressively 
seeking new efficiencies in treatment. It’s anticipated that 
healthcare spending in the United States will soon rise to 
20% of U.S. GDP5. With this backdrop, the lower costs 
and improved health outcomes offered by IoT enabled 
healthcare activities are expected to achieve rapid market 
acceptance, in a high-growth market.  

The Merging of the IoT and Augmented Reality: The 
potential, high-value applications of augmented reality to 
healthcare  innovations  is  widely  recognised.  It  is 
anticipated that augmented reality applications, merged 
with the IoT, will play a growing role in boosting medical 
training,  speeding  the  adoption  of  new  technologies 
(through  faster  demonstrations  of  new  services  using 
remote  technologies,  and  faster  training  in  their  uses), 
assisting in the delivery of treatment, empowering patients 
to understand their diagnoses, conditions and treatments, 
and  enhancing  at-home  treatments,  such  as  patient 
physical rehabilitation enhanced with augmented reality 
visualizations. 

A  key  market  driver  for  the  combining  of  these 
technologies is the increased investment in all aspects of 
virtual and mixed reality hardware by the major technology 
such as Google, Facebook and Microsoft being the most 
notable. Also, the investment into the Cloud infrastructure 
by  Amazon  Web  Services  (“AWS”)  is  driving  new 
trends  and 
capability 

for  SaaS  products.  These 

3 Hamilton,  Dean,  Best  Practices  for  IoT  Security,  Network  World,   

4 Bresnick, Jennifer, AI, Big Data, IoT Bring Growth to Multiple Healthcare 

(March 27, 2018). 

Markets, Health IT Analytics (May 18, 2018). 

5 Walker, Joseph, Why Americans Spend So Much on Health Care –  

In 12 Charts, The Wall Street Journal, July 31, 2018. 

 
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11

Our Markets

technology  breakthroughs  have  enabled  our  portfolio 
company,  FundamentalVR,  to  bring  robust  capabilities 
onto the FundamentalVR platform to market at marginal 
costs. This  allows  for  the  adoption  of  low  cost  “off  the 
shelf” hardware solutions and enables FundamentalVR to 
focus on the software layer only. 

in 

(“IIoT”) 

Industrial 

Internet  of   Things 

The 
Manufacturing 
In manufacturing, the IIoT is rapidly driving the reinvention 
of processes leading to dramatic increases in efficiency, 
quality and customer satisfaction. The Company’s focus 
on  the  manufacturing  aspect  of  the  IIoT  reflects  this 
market’s  heightened  security  needs,  resulting  from 
requirements  associated  with 
intellectual  property 
protection.  Manufacturers  are  seeking  solutions  that 
enable the IoT, while simultaneously ensuring the security 
of their proprietary knowledge and that of their customers 
who consume the resultant products or services. 

Current Market Size and Anticipated Growth: The “all 
in” global IIoT market in Manufacturing, according to one 
research firm, will increase in size from USD 13 billion in 
2017 to USD 45 billion in 2022, with a CAGR of 29%6. 

The  Reinvention  of  Existing  Processes:  The  IIoT  is 
poised to revolutionise processes, product reliability and 
product services, through new visibility into operations and 
smart activities of all types. The result will be significant 
improvements in productivity and life time operating costs 
and safety. Moreover, these gains are not limited to large 
facilities. One small factory IIoT implementation, boosted 
efficiency by 15% to 20%, and created significant savings 
in capital expenditure7. 

With connected, real-time information on performance, 
combined  with  predictive  analytics,  manufacturers  are 
poised 
through  automation,  enhanced 
optimization and monitoring in the manufacturing process, 
as  well  as  predictive  asset  management  and 
maintenance. In many cases, this monitoring and smart 

for  gains 

6 Markets and Markets, IoT in Manufacturing Market by Solution (Network 
Management,  Data  Management,  Device  Management, Application 
Management, Smart Surveillance), Platform, Service (Professional and 
Managed), Application, Vertical Market, and Region - Global Forecast 
to 2022 (January 2018). 

lengthy 

through  a 

environmental  measurement, 

measurement may contribute to ensuring the health and 
list  of 
safety  of  workers 
implementations, including real-time health monitoring, 
and  smart  capabilities  associated  with  air  quality 
management, 
the 
measurement  of  liquids,  gases,  radiation  or  other 
risk  analyses. 
dangerous  materials  and  other 
Accomplishing these gains requires an expansion in the 
investment in the intellectual property required to create 
these advancements. We see an opportunity in finding the 
exciting  new  companies  who  enable  the  creation, 
protection, communications and servicing of the IP used 
as an area of our focus. InVMA and Wyld Technologies 
are examples within our portfolio who are targeting these 
business opportunities. 

A Particularly High Need for Security Solutions: As 
applications  of  the  IIoT  recreate  the  operations  of 
factories,  security  is  a  central  concern.  First,  factory 
automation systems, by necessity, incorporate the value 
of  intellectual  property  in  the  design  of  products.  This 
intellectual property often represents a central part of a 
firm’s  competitive  advantage.  With  ineffective  security 
solutions, firms implementing IIoT processes are at risk 
that their networks will be penetrated, and their associated 
intellectual  property  will  be  stolen.  In  addition,  worker 
protections, incorporated in health and safety laws and 
regulations, mandate that factory equipment must operate 
in  specific  ways  to  ensure  worker  safety.  Ineffective 
security, and the loss of control of factory processes, could 
put  the  safety  of  workers  at  risk,  with  attendant 
governmental  scrutiny,  liability,  and  other  damaging 
consequences.  DA  brings  significant  value  with  its 
platform, which enables secure life cycle management 
and data/IP protection. 

into 

The transforming value of data analytics: by turning 
“dumb”  devices 
“smart”,  connected  systems 
manufacturers  gain  insights  into  processes  that  were 
previously  unavailable.  At  the  same  time,  by  linking 
information from the many activities in the manufacturing 
process,  an  unprecedented  opportunity 
for  smart 
enhancements,  via  data  analytics,  is  created.  This 
capability  extends  beyond  the  already  discussed  high 
value  of  monitoring  and  predictive  capabilities. 
Manufacturers will gain new insights into processes that 
have an effect on product quality; the optimization of shop-
floor  processes  and  throughput  implementation;  the 
elements  driving  costs  for  existing  and  hence  new 
businesses;  and  the  ability  to  create  faster  turnaround 
time  for  custom  orders  by  customers.  In  short,  data 
analytics applied to smart manufacturing will become a 
the 
new  source  of  competitive  advantage 
manufacturers. 

for 

7 Hitch, John, A Proven Plan for Industrial IoT Success, Industry Week 

(July 11, 2018) 

 
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Our Markets

The  Need  for  Flawless  Implementation:  The  issues 
discussed  above,  associated  with  the  need  to  ensure 
worker safety, similarly require flawless implementation of 
factory-related IIoT processes. Moreover, mistakes in this 
arena will also lead to factory down-time, with high costs 
associated  with  delays  in  the  manufacturing  process. 
InVMA and its Asset Minder product has been specifically 
designed to address this problem and market opportunity.  

The High Value of New Efficiencies: The central value 
of the IIoT is the ability to bring significant new efficiencies 
to factory operations, across a wide range of processes 
and to secure product life cycle management to products 
deployed anywhere and at anytime. 

factories  emerge,  augmented 

The  Merging  of  the  IoT  and  Augmented  Reality: As 
smart 
reality  will 
increasingly play a central role in training, and combining 
data  analytics  to  present  information  in  an  actionable 
format that enables real time responses8. With augmented 
reality, digital data is placed in a context that humans can 
rapidly and easily understand. A central aspect of these 
applications is the use of augmented reality to provide a 
superior customer experience. 

8 See,  for  example,  Augmented  Reality  Is  Becoming  a  Focus  in 

Maintenance Technology, IoT For All, January 4, 2019.

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Strategic Report 
For the year ended 31 December 2018

place to position itself for 
lasting success in its focused 

 “The Company has initiatives in 
market sector.” 

Business review 
The Company is positioned as a quoted platform to invest in, develop and sell private software companies with proven 
technology,  based  in  the  UK  and  Europe  but  with  global  opportunities  and  ambitions.  These  businesses  are 
predominantly in the Internet of Things sector. The business model moves through three stages:  

Stage 1
Infrastructure

Stage 2
Growth

Stage 3
Realise

Review >> Plan Business
>>Model, Product Recruitment 

Strategic partners >>
Marketing, Awards >> Exports 

Complete >> Add Value >>
Target Buyers

12-18 months to review,
prepare plan and implement
infrastructure changes to make
the business a commercial
success within three years

18-24 months to create awareness,
build commercialisation and a
case for the company to be
acquired by a trade buyer 

Up to 2 years to continue
building whilst sale of business
process is sought and executed

A more detailed review of the activity and progress of the business, including the portfolio of investments, is contained 
in the CEO’s Statement on pages 4-7 and Investment Report on pages 18-21, which form part of the Strategic Report. 

The 2018 results have been materially impacted by a fair value uplift of £0.8 million, of which £0.4 million is due to an 
exchange rate gain on the revaluation of the Device Authority investment at the balance sheet date. Directors fees 
increased and legal fees were lower but offset by other one-off professional fees. Overall, administrative expenses 
were comparable to 2017. 

Future developments 
As explained in the CEO’s Statement the Company has undertaken a series of initiatives to position the Company for 
lasting success in its focused market sector and has continued to build a portfolio of investments and a pipeline of 
investment opportunities in IoT Security, IoT enablement and IoT analytics. 

The Board has given consideration to the impact of Brexit on the investment portfolio and has concluded that it does 
not envisage a material impact on performance given the majority of opportunities for the portfolio are in the UK and 
the USA. Brexit impact has also been considered within the principal business risks and uncertainties set out later in 
this section. 

 
 
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Strategic Report 
For the year ended 31 December 2018

Key performance indicators 
The  Company’s  principal  activity  is  that  of  investing  in  companies.  Accordingly,  the  Company’s  financial  Key 
Performance Indicators (KPIs) are focused on return on investment; delivering consistent investee company turnover 
growth; and focusing on year-on-year net asset growth. These indicators are monitored closely by the Board and the 
details of performance against these are given below.  

• The return on investments: 

Unrealised 

• Device Authority’s underlying US dollar value remains unchanged, however the fair value is based on the 
probability of each of the various conversion options, with the value of each conversion option being weighted 
based on the probability of its exercise. A pound sterling increase has been reflected due to the weakening 
currency when revaluing the investment using the 2018 year end exchange rate; 

•

•

flexiOPS Limited is valued at fair value which takes into account the cost of investment in Wyld Technologies 
Limited. InVMA Limited is valued at fair value and the price of the most recent valuation is taken into account; 

FVRVS Limited (“FundamentalVR”) is held at fair value where the price of the most recent valuation has been 
taken into account; 

• Push Technology Limited has been revalued in line with IFRS to a level consistent with recent fund raisings. 
Seal Software Group Limited’s US dollar fair value remains unchanged, although a weakening of the pound 
sterling has resulted in a small increase in its pound sterling valuation; and 

•

These investee companies are early stage businesses in emerging markets where there is a lack of comparative 
businesses available on which to provide a comparable valuation and therefore value has been based on an 
assessment of numerous factors: the underlying value of the Device Authority patent portfolio, the multiples 
achieved in comparable markets on recent transactions, and an assessment by the Board on the strength of 
the sales pipeline and achievability of the 2019 sales forecast. 

The net assets of the Company at 31 December 2018 were £16,751,773 (2017: £10,580,802). The net assets per 
ordinary share as at 31 December 2018 were 7.1p (2017: 7.38p). 

Investee company turnover growth: the year-over-year growth in the aggregate revenue of our principal portfolio 
companies (excluding Seal and Push) increased by 58% from calendar year 2017 to 2018 (126% from calendar year 
2016 to calendar year 2017) which provides an indication of growth in the overall portfolio.  

The Company has non-financial KPIs which are also monitored regularly by the Board. These non-financial KPIs are 
focused around the number and quality of investment opportunities seen, as assessed by reviewing all opportunities 
at the monthly Board meeting and the investee company employee number growth in our portfolio companies. We 
believe these factors help serve as leading indicators of the future performance and our impact on our stakeholders. 

Investee company employee number growth (excluding Seal and Push) increased by 52% from calendar year 2017 to 
calendar year 2018 (55% from calendar year 2016 to calendar year 2017), highlighting a continuing growth in the 
portfolio overall. 

Financial risk management objectives and policies 
The Company’s policy in respect of financial instruments and risk profile is set out in Note 2 to the financial statements. 

Principal business risks and uncertainties 
The management of the business and the nature of the Company’s strategy are subject to a number of risks. The 
directors have set out below the principal risks facing the business. Where possible, processes are in place to monitor 
and mitigate such risks. The Company operates a system of internal control and risk management in order to provide 
assurance that the Board is managing risk whilst achieving its business objectives with the assistance of the Audit 
Committee. The Executive Directors meet at least monthly to review ongoing trading performance for both the Company 
and the portfolio companies, discuss budgets, forecasts, opportunities and new risks associated with ongoing trading. 
The Board regularly reviews operating and strategic risks and the effectiveness of the Company’s risk management 
and related control systems, with the assistance of its committees. No system can fully eliminate risk and therefore, 
the understanding of operational risk is central to the management process. 

Identifying, evaluating and managing the principal risks and uncertainties facing the Company is an integral part of the 
way the business operates. The Company has policies and procedures in place throughout its operations, embedded 
within the management structure and as part of the normal operating processes. A formal risk register is maintained 

253353 Tern AR pp01-pp22.qxp  21/03/2019  12:20  Page 15

15

Strategic Report 
For the year ended 31 December 2018

and reviewed by the Board at least quarterly, with key risks identified, discussed and mitigation agreed. Market and 
economic conditions are recognised as one of the principal risks in the current trading environment. This risk is mitigated 
by the close monitoring of trading conditions and the performance of the Company’s investment portfolio. The Company 
is affected by a number of risks and uncertainties, not all of which are wholly within its control as they relate to the 
wider macroeconomic and legislative environment within which the Company operates. To enable shareholders to 
appreciate what the business considers are the main operational risks, they are briefly outlined below: 

Risk 

Potential impact 

Strategy 

Reliance on 
key people

The Company is unable to retain 
key individuals

Investment 
risk

An investment fails to perform as 
anticipated: 
•

Investee companies may be 
operating in highly 
competitive markets with 
rapid technological change 
Investee companies may be 
companies in early stage of 
commercial development. 
Generation of significant 
revenues is difficult to predict 
and not guaranteed 
Investee company 
management is performing 
underpar 

•

•

• Disruption for the Company or 
its investment companies as 
new individuals take time to 
gain an understanding of the 
investment company’s strategy 
and requirements.

•

•

Investments may require 
additional finance 
Inability to create maximum 
value in a timely fashion 

• Difficulty in realising investment 
•

The Company’s influence 
reduces 
The value of the Company’s 
holding falls 
If one dominant investment 
fails it has a disproportionate 
impact on the Company 

•

•

The Company is unable to 
maintain its holding when the 
investee company requires 
significant additional funding 

The portfolio is dominated by 
one or two investments 

Liquidity

The Company is unable to raise 
new funds

Legal & 
regulatory 
risk

Legal claims and change to 
regulation 

UK exit from European Union

• May have a detrimental effect 
on the Company’s ability to 
cover administration and other 
costs  

• May adversely affect returns of 
investee companies if they 
need to raise further funds

•

Financial and reputational 
impact 

• Potentially increase costs of 

compliance which makes it 
harder to raise funds 

• Detrimental impact on 

performance of investment 
companies with exposure to 
the European Union

•

The Company offers a 
remuneration package 
designed to attract, motivate 
and retain key individuals 

• Key individuals in the 

investment companies are 
offered an attractive 
remuneration package and 
either shares or share option 
incentives 

•

•

•

•

The Company actively takes an 
influential role in the strategic 
direction of its investments and 
monitors all investments 
regularly. A Company director 
holds a non-executive Board 
position on all investment 
company boards where the 
Company has a significant 
(>10%) holding 
The Company’s strategy has 
been formulated by the 
management team with a 
strong track record of 
generating gains from early 
stage companies within the 
technology sector 
The Company is building a 
portfolio of investments to 
insulate itself against poor 
performance of any single 
investment

The Company will maintain a 
sufficient cash balance to 
finance itself for a prudent 
period, or ensure that it has 
access to funds

• Maintain strong advisory base 
Legal advice taken on all 
•
investment and employment 
issues 
The Company monitors its 
working capital to ensure it has 
sufficient funds to maintain 
operations during any 
economic slow down

•

Foreign 
exchange 
risk

The valuation of investments 
may be impacted by foreign 
exchange movements

•

The value of the Company’s 
holding falls

•

The Company actively reviews 
the value of investments and 
will consider action on foreign 
exchange risk where relevant, 
following advice from advisors

 
 
 
 
 
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Strategic Report 
For the year ended 31 December 2018

Assessment of  business risk 
The Board regularly reviews operating and strategic risks, with the assistance of its committees. The Company’s 
operating procedures include a system for reporting financial and non-financial information to the Board including: 

•

•

•

•

•

•

reports from management with a review of the business at each Board meeting, focusing on any new decisions/risks 
arising; 

reports on the performance of investments; 

reports on selection criteria of new investments; 

quarterly review of risk register; 

discussion with senior personnel; and 

consideration of reports prepared by third parties. 

Investing policy (established July 2013) 
To invest principally, but not exclusively, in the information technology sector within Europe. The Directors believe that 
the Company can invest in and acquire information technology businesses, improve them by a combination of new 
management and investment and realise the value created which will be returned to shareholders. The Company may 
be either an active investor and acquire control of a single company or it may acquire non-controlling shareholdings. 
Once a target has been identified, additional funds may need to be raised by the Company to complete a transaction. 

The Directors see IT as having considerable growth potential for the foreseeable future and many of the prospects 
they have identified are in this sector. They believe there are opportunities to invest in and acquire established IT 
businesses which have good technology, marquee customers and could better exploit their assets with the injection of 
experienced management and new funds with the intention of creating value for Shareholders. 

Although the Company intends the main focus of the investment policy to be on the exploitation of IT businesses; this 
will not preclude the Company from considering investment in suitable projects in other sectors where the Directors 
believe that there are high-growth opportunities. 

It is anticipated that the main driver of success for the Company will be expertise that can be provided by the Directors 
to the management involved in the potential investee companies and the value creation that the team of people is 
capable of realising. The Company intends to be an active investor. Accordingly, it may seek representation on the 
board of investee companies. 

In the first instance, the new capital available to the Company will be used to locate, evaluate and select investment 
opportunities that offer satisfactory potential capital returns for Shareholders. Once the Directors have identified the 
most attractive investments, the Company may require further funds in order to take up these opportunities. It is the 
intention  of  the  Directors  to  undertake  further  fundraising,  if  such  an  opportunity  should  arise.  The  Company’s 
investments may take the form of equity, debt or convertible instruments. Investments may be made in all types of 
assets falling within the remit of the Investing Policy and there will be no investment restrictions. 

The Directors may consider it appropriate to take an equity interest in any proposed investment which may range from 
a  minority  position  to  100  percent  ownership.  Proposed  investments  may  be  made  in  either  quoted  or  unquoted 
companies and structured as a direct acquisition, joint venture or as a direct interest in a project. 

The Company will seek investment opportunities which can be developed through the investment of capital or where 
part of or all of the consideration could be satisfied by the issue of new Ordinary Shares or other securities in the 
Company. The opportunities would generally have some or all of the following characteristics, namely: 

•

•

a majority of their revenue derived from IT or the use of IT, and strongly positioned to benefit from market growth; 

a trading history which reflects past profitability or potential for significant capital growth going forward; and 

• where all or part of the consideration could be satisfied by the issue of new Ordinary Shares or other securities in 

the Company. 

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17

Strategic Report 
For the year ended 31 December 2018

The Company will identify and assess potential investment targets and where it believes further investigation is required, 
intends to appoint appropriately qualified advisers to assist. 

The Company proposes to carry out a comprehensive and thorough project review process in which all material aspects 
of any potential investment will be subject to rigorous due diligence, as appropriate. It is likely that the Company’s 
financial resources will be invested in a small number of projects or investments or potentially in just one investment 
which may be deemed to be a reverse takeover of the Company under the AIM Rules. 

The Strategic Report was approved and authorised for issue by the Board of Directors on 18 March 2019 and was 
signed on its behalf by: 

Bruce Leith  
Director 

18 March 2019 

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18

Investment Report 
For the year ended 31 December 2018

The Company’s current investment portfolio consists of the following investments, all of which are unquoted: 

Device Authority Limited 

Market segment: Data Security software 

Fair value:

Consists of: 

Cost: £5.61 million

Valuation: £11.7 million 

Equity ownership: 56.8% ‘A’ shares:

Cost: £4.34 million

Convertible loan:

Cost: £1.27 million

Valuation: £6.2 million 

Valuation: £5.5 million 

Valuation is based on a probability analysis of the potential outcomes relating to the conversion or redemption of 
the convertible loan note, translated at the exchange rate at the balance sheet date. The fair value was supported 
by an evaluation of a combination of factors, including the price of shares in the most recent fund raise (April 2016), 
the independent valuation of Device Authority’s patent portfolio, a comparison to transaction multiples in comparable 
market sectors and an evaluation of sales pipeline and 2019 trading forecast.

Device Authority Limited (“DA”) is an Internet of Things (IoT) security automation company.  DA provides simple, 
innovative solutions to address the challenges of securing applications and their devices while using the Internet with 
a robust, end-to-end security architecture that delivers efficiencies at scale. DA’s KeyScalerTM IoT security platform 
provides  trust  for  IoT  devices  and  the  IoT  ecosystem,  including  key  partners  such  as  Certificate  Authorities, 
HSM vendors, IoT platforms, system integrators and cloud platforms. KeyScaler delivers automated device provisioning 
and registration, token-based authentication, credential management for certificates and passwords, and end-to-end 
data  security.  KeyScaler  also  protects  private  keys  and  crypto  keys,  prevents  unauthorised  access  and  delivers 
end-to-end data security and confidentiality for Enterprise Blockchain. 

For example, the healthcare industry is in a state of digital transformation. Drug delivery systems, surgical robots, 
infusion pumps and medical records are now all connected. Knowing the identity of the user or device and protecting 
a patient’s data are critical items requiring protection under a variety of laws. Also, the need to exchange data between 
the applications using these devices and systems, including updating the software running these systems, puts them 
at risk. DA’s KeyScaler product is used by medical device manufacturers and the applications which use the devices 
to protect the data exchanged, by applying policy and encryption techniques to protect the information. DA does this 
autonomously and at IoT scale providing a clear ROI and a protection against human error. 

In 2018, DA continued to build on a strong base of strategic partners, including TeamViewer, SyroCon Consulting and 
Eonti, Larsen and Toubro Infotech (‘LTI’) and Gemalto. Furthermore, it announced support for the Microsoft Azure IoT 
Hub. DA also continued to be recognised as a critical force in the global IoT security market, for example, gaining 
recognition as a 2018 Emerging Star in the IoT Security Market by Quadrant Knowledge Solutions.  

During the year, DA announced the launch of KeyScaler As A Service, providing IoT Security in the Cloud. This service 
enables IoT service providers and manufacturers to offer their customers the best security for IoT devices without the 
infrastructure or running costs associated with on-premise environments, expanding its ability to make markets for its 
platform by simplifying customer deployment options.  

Fundraising activities continue with US Capital in search for a key strategic US partner. In addition, the DA Board is 
considering additional advisors to review DA’s strategic opportunities. 

Other key announcements in 2018 included: 

• Announcing a customer success story, providing robust IoT Security for 3D Systems’ cloud-based service for 

3D printers; 

• Provision of a new solution for securing Enterprise Blockchain infrastructure which is powered by KeyScaler; 

 
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19

Investment Report 
For the year ended 31 December 2018

• Announcing the launch of their joint blueprint to secure the connected health industry, following the announcement 
of a strategic partnership with Thales (nCipher). This IoT market is a strategic focus for DA as healthcare forecasts 
predict growth to reach USD 524 billion by 2025, according to a report by Grand View Research, Inc published in 
2018; and 

• DA’s  KeyScaler  Platform  announced  that  it  now  secures  InVMA’s  (another  portfolio  company)  AssetMinder 

Performance Management Solution for IoT, with the product due to launch in early 2019. 

For more information visit: www.deviceauthority.com. 

InVMA Limited 

Market segment: IOT Systems Integrator 

Equity ownership: 50%

Cost: £1.0 million

Valuation: £1.0 million  

Valuation is based on fair value. This was evaluated by a combination of factors including an assessment of sales 
pipeline and 2019 trading forecast.

InVMA Limited (“InVMA”) delivers IoT applications, based on the industry leading PTC/Thingworx development platform 
that deliver real business value and competitive advantage to its customers.  

Since the Company’s investment in late 2017, InVMA, as part of its business transformation, has launched AssetMinder, 
a product which monitors and manages data from all types of sensors and provides alerts when pre-determined 
thresholds or rules have been met or broken. In 2018, InVMA has focused on generating AssetMinder product sales to 
drive value creation. InVMA also announced the integration of InVMA’s AssetMinder with Device Authority’s KeyScaler 
which is an important proof point of the Company’s influence in integrating the products and technologies of its portfolio 
companies.  

In 2018, InVMA announced it had developed Clarity for GCE Healthcare using PTC’s ThingWorx® Industrial Innovation 
Platform. The global market for real time health monitoring devices is expected to reach USD 67,982.2 million by 2022 
and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 14.29% during the forecast period 2016-2022 according to Global Real Time 
Health Monitoring Devices Market Research Report – Forecast to 2022 published in April 2017. 

InVMA have secured new strategic partnerships and contract wins in key segments of the Industrial IoT market already, 
including the announcement of a contract with ESAB, part of the Colfax Group, to support the architecture of a new 
ESAB WorldCloud platform which will be powered by Microsoft Azure IoT and PTC’s ThingWorx platform.  

Other key announcements in 2018 include: 

• Partnering with ARM to deliver connected IoT. The new partnership will enable enterprise customers to manage, 
connect, provision and update devices through an end-to-end IoT platform that is easily scalable and flexible; 

• New capabilities for AssetMinder®, its turnkey asset performance management solution which will significantly 

reduce the cost of maintenance using new high frequency wireless sensors; and 

• Acquiring the intellectual property and assets of IoT communications company AMIHO Technology Limited. This 
software will enable customers to integrate the IP technology into their products to enable them to robustly connect 
on the LoRA and M-Bus protocols. 

For more information visit: www.invma.co.uk. 

 
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20

Investment Report 
For the year ended 31 December 2018

FVRVS Limited (“FundamentalVR”) 

Market segment: SAAS immersive platform for medical and surgical education driving data insight 

Equity ownership: 34.7%

Cost: £1.9 million

Valuation: £1.9 million 

Valuation is based on fair value. This was evaluated by a combination of factors including an assessment of sales 
pipeline and 2019 trading forecast.

FundamentalVR provides the Company with exposure to the rapidly growing medical simulation market using low cost 
open-system IoT devices and provides a basis for developing our IoT analytics pillar of the Tern investment strategy. 

Key announcements in 2018 include: 

• Since the Company invested in May 2018, FundamentalVR has launched in the USA, Australia and New Zealand 

and appointed Hybrid Health as its channel partner for Australian and New Zealand markets; 

•

•

FundamentalVR has been recognised as having made significant impact on this market. This has been evidenced 
by  winning  the  prestigious Auggie Award  for  ‘Most  Impactful  Breakthrough’;  being  named  as  one  of  the  best 
50 inventions in 2018 by Time magazine and more recently being nominated for the Immersive Healthcare of the 
Year award; 

FundamentalVR  has  also  celebrated  commercial  success  by  launching  a  strategic  collaboration  and  joint 
development agreement with the Mayo Clinic, resulting in the Fundamental surgery platform being installed in their 
US centres; and 

• Two ground-breaking surgical simulators have been installed at UCLH’s flagship University College Hospital, one 
of the UK’s leading teaching hospitals, as well as the UCLH staff training centre. UCLH are the first in Europe to 
have adopted the VR and Haptic simulation system for Spine and Orthopaedic training. 

For more information visit: www.fundamentalvr.com 

flexiOPS Limited 

Market segment: Project management of research and innovation projects in technology 

Equity ownership: 100%

Cost: £37,500*

Valuation: £78,000 

* Cost is 50% of the purchase price of two business units flexiOPS and Concerto. Concerto was sold in 2016. 
Valuation is based on fair value. This was evaluated by a combination of factors including an assessment of sales 
pipeline and 2019 trading forecast. 

flexiOPS completed its portfolio of EU funded research and development cloud projects during 2018 and with the 
changing political landscape in the UK, securing new EU grants has been very difficult. As a result, the company has 
now re-focused on supporting the networking element of Tern’s IoT enablement strategy by aiding the growth and 
development of the Wyld Technologies Limited (“Wyld Technologies”) ad-hoc mesh networking offering following their 
acquisition in late 2017. 

During 2018, Wyld Technologies focused on building out its development team and product platform, and now has a 
product roadmap that is in line with current market requirements with its ability to deliver and collect critical data with 
its ad-hoc mesh networking platform in the all critical “last mile”. 

Mesh networks enable data to be transmitted from different devices simultaneously. This topology can withstand high 
traffic and even if one of the components fail, an alternative is always available, ensuring data transfer is not affected. 
As mesh network topology is self-forming and self-healing it is more efficient at creating robust ad-hoc networks; 
providing assured quality to ensure continuity of service. 

Post year-end, flexiOPS changed its name to Wyld Networks Limited. 

For more information visit: www.wyldnetworks.com.

 
 
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21

Investment Report 
For the year ended 31 December 2018

Push Technology Limited 

Market segment: Data distribution software 

Equity ownership: <1%

Cost: £120,197

Valuation: £34,205  

Valuation is based on the price of shares in the most recent fundraise, which is taken as fair value. 

Push Technology Limited (“Push”) significantly enhances the ability of organisations to communicate in real-time. This 
includes direct communication as well as indirect, for example, by refreshing data displayed information in real time 
rather than when a user explicitly asks for an update. Interactive applications are infinitely more engaging, updating in 
real-time as new data becomes available. 

Key announcements in 2018 included: 

• New software release to increase security authentication and authorisation handling 

For more information visit: www.pushtechnology.com. 

Seal Software Group Limited 

Market segment: Database Analytics and Search software 

Equity ownership: <1%

Cost: £50,000

Valuation: £130,377  

Valuation is based on the price of shares in the most recent fundraise, which is taken as fair value.

Seal Software Group Limited (“Seal”) specialises in writing software which performs complex analysis of contractual 
data. Seal is specifically designed to locate and examine contractual documents and extract and present key contractual 
information related to language, clauses, clause combinations, and the significant contextual metadata held within them. 

In 2018 the notable events included: 

• Unveiling a global partnership with DocuSign to automate and connect the process of how agreements are prepared, 

signed, enacted and managed.  

• Winning the 2018 Aragon Research Innovation Award for Content Analytic, winning the award for Outstanding Data 
Analytics Solution at the annual Big Data Excellence awards in May 2018 and being named a 2018 Cool Vendor in 
Content Services by Gartner.  

• Being named within the Deloitte’s Technology Fast 500™ for a third consecutive year. Seal was named the 64th 
fastest growing tech company in the San Francisco Bay Area, and 337th overall with 239 percent year-over-year 
growth. Seal Software was also included by Inc magazine within the 5000 List of America’s Fastest-Growing Private 
Companies for the second consecutive year.  

Customers include Dell, PayPal, Salesforce, Bosch, Experian and many other multi-national organisations.  

For more information visit: www.seal-software.com.

 
 
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22

Board of Directors

Ian Ritchie 
Chairman 

Ian is the non-executive Chairman of Computer Applications Service and Krotos 
and completed his term of office as the Chairman of Iomart plc in August 2018. 
He founded OWL in 1984, which pioneered hypertext application development 
(a forerunner to the world wide web) selling the company to Panasonic in 1989. 
Since then he has been involved in over 40 start-up high-tech businesses. Ian is a 
Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering, the Royal Society of Edinburgh and 
a Fellow and past President of the British Computer Society. His TED talk has been 
viewed over 600,000 times. 

Committee membership: Member of Audit committee and Remuneration committee

Albert Sisto 
Chief  Executive Officer 

Albert is an IT industry veteran with more than 25 years of senior executive level 
experience. As  Chief  Operating  Officer  at  RSA  Data  Security  Inc,  the  leading 
security software company, he led its transformation from a passive patent licensing 
operation to an aggressive, sales oriented software company. At RSA he negotiated 
partnership agreements with IBM, Intel, Compaq, Cisco and Nortel. Albert was 
Chairman, President and CEO of Phoenix Technologies Limited, the global BIOS 
software  company.  He  revitalised  Phoenix  through  the  acquisition  of  Internet 
appliance  business,  Ravisent  Technologies;  investing  in  semiconductor  and 
microprocessor designer Transmeta and spinning off Silicon Corporation.

Sarah Payne  
Finance Director 

Sarah qualified with Ernst & Young as a Chartered Accountant and spent six years 
with the firm, joining its corporate finance team for the later years and is now an 
FCA. She spent six years with the BBC, firstly within their corporate commercial 
and investment strategy team and then as Head of Financial Planning and Analysis. 
For the seven years before joining Tern Plc, Sarah was an outsourced Finance 
Director for SME businesses principally within high tech markets.

Bruce Leith 
Business Development Director 

Bruce  began  his  career  with  IBM  and  has  extensive  international  sales 
management and board level experience in the software industry including senior 
level positions at DataWorks Corporation, London Bridge Software International 
and Codestream. Specialising in delivering high growth, high profit results through 
product development, portfolio repositioning and geographical expansion, Bruce 
was involved in the successful sales of a number of companies including Interactive 
UK, London Bridge and Codestream. Bruce is also an active angel investor in 
several high growth software businesses.

Alan Howarth 
Non-Executive Director 

Alan  has  extensive  experience  as  a  Chairman  and  Non-Executive  Director  of 
private and public companies. He is a specialist in building and selling technology 
businesses. Previously, Alan was a partner at Ernst & Young and is one of the 
founding partners of the EY Management Consulting practice in the UK. For the 
last  eighteen  years  he  has  been  managing  a  portfolio  of  non-executive 
appointments. 

Committee membership: Chair of Audit Committee and Chair of Remuneration 
Committee

253353 Tern AR pp23-pp37.qxp  21/03/2019  12:23  Page 23

23

Directors’ Report 
For the year ended 31 December 2018

The directors present their annual report and the audited financial statements of Tern plc (the “Company”) for the year 
ended 31 December 2018. 

The Company is registered as a public limited company (plc). The Company’s Ordinary shares of 0.02p each are traded 
on AIM of the London Stock Exchange. 

Principal activities 

The principal activity of the Company is investing in unquoted and quoted companies to achieve capital growth. 

Results and dividends 

The results for the year are shown in the income statement and statement of comprehensive income on page 34. 

The loss for the year was £312,564 (2017: £1,689,555).  

The directors do not recommend payment of a dividend. 

Events after the reporting period 

On 14 January 2019, USD 240,000 was paid to Device Authority in the form of a convertible loan note. 

On 19 February 2019, a further USD 160,000 was paid to Device Authority in the form of a convertible loan note. 

Providers of these loan notes were also issued with 2.6 warrants for each USD 1 of loan notes subscribed. 

Political and charitable contributions 

No political or charitable donations were made during the year.  

Control procedures 

Operational procedures have been developed for the Company that embody key controls over relevant areas. The 
implications of changes in law and regulations are taken into account by the Company. 

The Board has considered the need for an internal audit function but has decided that this is not justified at present 
given the size of the Company. However, it will keep the decision under review on an annual basis. 

Going concern 

The financial statements have been prepared on the going concern basis because, as set out in detail in Note 1.3, the 
Directors have a reasonable expectation that the Company has adequate resources to continue in operational existence 
for the foreseeable future. This has been assessed using detailed cash flow analysis so that the Board can conclude 
that the Company has sufficient working capital resources to continue for at least 12 months without any additional 
financing  requirements.  In  the  event  that  opportunities  are  presented  such  that  additional  funding  was  required, 
management are confident that they would be able to obtain additional funds from various sources. 

Directors and directors’ interests 

The directors who held office during the year and their interests in the ordinary shares of the Company are as follows: 

Alan Howarth
Bruce Leith
Sarah Payne
Ian Ritchie
Albert Sisto
Richard Turner (resigned 15 January 2018)

At 31 December 2018
Ordinary shares

At 31 December 2017 
Ordinary shares 

–
8,857,233
–
677,000
9,683,333
–

– 
5,957,233 
– 
– 
9,183,333 
– 

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24

Directors’ Report 
For the year ended 31 December 2018

The  interests  of  the  directors  in  options  granted  by  the  Company  are  disclosed  under  the  “Report  on  Directors 
Remuneration”. 

Significant shareholdings 

As at 18 March 2019, the company had been notified of the following shareholdings of 3% or more of the share capital. 

John Mahtani
Albert Sisto
Bruce Leith
Canaccord Genuity Group Inc

Number of 
Ordinary
Shares 

Percentage of 
Issued Shares 
Held 

16,489,545
9,683,333
8,857,233
7,423,808

7.0% 
4.1% 
3.7% 
3.1% 

Statement of  directors’ responsibilities 

The  directors  are  responsible  for  preparing  the  directors’  report  and  the  financial  statements  in  accordance  with 
applicable law and regulations. 

Company law requires the directors to prepare financial statements for each financial period. Under that law the directors 
have elected to prepare the financial statements in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) 
as adopted for use in the European Union. Under company law the directors must not approve the financial statements 
unless they are satisfied that they give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Company and of the profit or 
loss of the Company for that period. In preparing those financial statements, the directors are required to: 

•

•

•

•

select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently; 

make judgements and accounting estimates that are reasonable and prudent; 

state whether the Company financial statements have been prepared in accordance with IFRS as adopted by the 
European Union subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and 

prepare the accounts on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the Company will 
continue in business. 

The directors are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the 
Company’s transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the Company and 
enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible 
for safeguarding the assets of the Company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of 
fraud and other irregularities. 

Disclosure of  information 

In the case of each person who was a director at the time this report was approved: 

•

•

so far as that director is aware there is no relevant available information of which the company’s auditors are 
unaware; and 

that director has taken all steps that the director ought to have taken as a director to make himself aware of any 
relevant audit information and to establish that the Company’s auditors were aware of that information. 

Publication of  accounts on the company website 

Financial statements are published on the Company’s website. The maintenance and integrity of the website is the 
responsibility of the directors. The directors’ responsibility also extends to the financial statements contained therein. 

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25

Directors’ Report 
For the year ended 31 December 2018

Independent auditors 

The auditor, Grant Thornton UK LLP, was appointed on 15 December 2016 in accordance with section 160 (2) of the 
Companies Act 2006. In accordance with S489 (4) of the Companies Act 2006, a resolution to re-appoint Grant Thornton 
UK LLP as auditor will be put to the members at the annual general meeting to be held on 25 April 2019. 

Signed on behalf of the board 

Sarah Payne 
Director 

18 March 2019

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26

Corporate Governance and Compliance 
For the year ended 31 December 2018

our Company remains a high priority for 

“The stewardship and good governance of 
the Board.” 

Ian Ritchie – Chairman and Senior Independent Director

Chairman’s Corporate Governance Statement 

As Chairman, it is my responsibility to ensure that good standards of corporate governance are embraced throughout 
the Group. As a Board, we set clear expectations concerning the Group’s culture, values and behaviours. 

The Company’s shares are traded on AIM and the Company is subject to the UK City Code on Takeovers and Mergers. 
The Board recognises the value and importance of high standards of corporate governance and has adopted the 
Corporate Governance Code 2018 (“the Code”) published by the Quoted Company Alliance (“QCA”). This report and 
the Report on Directors’ Remuneration describe how the Company applies certain of the provisions of good corporate 
governance. A  fuller  updated  review  describing  how  the  Company  applies  the  QCA’s  ten  principles  of  corporate 
governance will be made available in due course on the Company’s website (www.ternplc.com) under Investors. 

Directors 

The Company supports the concept of effective Board leadership and control of the Company. The Board is responsible 
for approving Company policy and strategy. All directors have access to advice from the company secretary and 
independent professionals at the Company’s expense. 

The Board consists of three executive directors and two non-executive directors. The non-executive directors are 
independent of management and any business or other relationship which could interfere with the exercise of their 
independent judgement. 

Ian Ritchie has been Chairman, senior independent director and a director of the Board for 18 months. He has extensive 
experience as an independent director of listed companies and technology start up companies. Albert Sisto has been 
a Director of the Board for almost five years and CEO for over two years. He has over 25 years of experience at senior 
executive level and with security software companies. 

The Board members are listed on page 22. 

Board Evaluation 

The Board carries out an evaluation of its performance as a whole annually, taking into account the Financial Reporting 
Council’s Guidance on Board Effectiveness. This process is led by the Chairman. Due to the size and nature of the 
company, the effectiveness of the individual directors is constantly evaluated and therefore it is not the belief of the 
Board that a formal process is required. Due to the detailed review of performance at each Board meeting, any issues 
are very quickly apparent and can be dealt with on a timely basis. As the company grows the Board will periodically 
consider whether a more formal annual evaluation process is required in the future. Due to the size and nature of the 
company, the effectiveness of the individual Committees is constantly evaluated and therefore it is not the belief of the 
Board that a formal process is required. As the company grows the Board will periodically consider whether a more 
formal annual evaluation process of the effectiveness of the Committees is required in the future. The Company’s 
Board, individual director and Committee evaluation process have not changed materially over the previous years, on 
the  basis  that  the  Board  as  a  whole  consider  these  evaluation  processes  to  be  appropriate  for  the  Company’s 
requirements. 

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27

Corporate Governance and Compliance 
For the year ended 31 December 2018

Board committees  
Audit Committee 

The Audit Committee was established in November 2016 and is chaired by Alan Howarth.  

The Board endeavours to present a balanced and understandable assessment of the Company’s position and prospects 
in all reports as well as in the information required to be presented by statutory requirements. All financial information 
published by the Company is subject to the approval of the Audit Committee. 

The Audit Committee is responsible for reviewing the Company’s internal control and risk management systems, and 
reviewing and monitoring the requirement for an internal audit function and the effectiveness of the external audit. The 
Committee is responsible for maintaining a system of internal control to safeguard shareholders’ investments and the 
Company’s assets and for reviewing its effectiveness. Such a system is designed to manage, but not eliminate, the risk 
of failure to achieve business objectives. There are inherent limitations in any control system and accordingly even the 
most effective systems can provide only reasonable, and not absolute, assurance against material misstatement or loss. 

Activities of the Audit Committee include monitoring the integrity of the Company’s financial statements and other formal 
announcements  relating  to  the  Company’s  financial  performance  and  reviewing  significant  financial  reporting 
judgements contained in them. 

The Audit Committee advises the Board on the appointment, reappointment and removal of the external auditor, 
considers its effectiveness and approves its remuneration and terms of engagement. It also reviews and monitors the 
independence and objectivity of the external auditor. 

There were three Audit Committee meetings in 2018. These were fully attended by all members. 

Remuneration Committee 

The Remuneration Committee was established in November 2016 and is chaired by Alan Howarth. 

The Committee’s role is to set the remuneration for the Board including basic pay, any bonus awards and share incentive 
schemes; to agree the terms of employment of all Board members, including those on cessation of employment, 
ensuring all payments are fair to both the employee and the Company; to continue to review the appropriateness of 
the remuneration policies, with reference to the conditions across the Company and up to-date information in other 
companies and to ensure that all requirements on the disclosure of remuneration are fulfilled. 

There were two Remuneration Committee meetings in 2018. One meeting was attended by the Chairman and one by 
all members. 

During the year the Board and Audit Committee sought external advice on accounting policy and treatment. No other 
advice was sought by the Board or its Committees on a significant matter. 

The Audit Committee and Remuneration Committee do not provide formal reports but do report to the Board on all 
recommendations. Given the size of the Company and the Board’s familiarity with the business of the Company, it is 
not considered necessary to provide formal reports. 

Relations with shareholders 

The  Company  values  the  views  of  its  shareholders  and  recognises  their  interest  in  the  Company’s  strategy  and 
performance, Board membership and quality of management. It therefore encourages shareholders to offer their views. 

The Company’s website (www.ternplc.com) maintains up to date news flow for shareholders and other interested 
parties. A dedicated email address is provided (info@ternplc.com) which is managed by the Company’s financial public 
relations  advisors.  The  Company  may  exercise  discretion  as  to  which  questions  will  receive  a  response  and  all 
information provided will be freely available in the public domain. If necessary, the enquiries will be brought to the 
Board’s attention.  

The AGM provides an opportunity for shareholders, particularly private investors, to question the Board on issues 
arising in a formal setting and then informally immediately following the AGM. 

253353 Tern AR pp23-pp37.qxp  21/03/2019  12:23  Page 28

28

Corporate Governance and Compliance 
For the year ended 31 December 2018

Three shareholder calls per annum provide an opportunity for shareholders to put their questions to the Board. These 
calls provide a helpful way of presenting an update to the shareholders on a regular basis and addressing their questions 
by taking and answering questions posed to the directors through this forum. 

The notice convening the AGM is the notice of the meeting sent to shareholders with this report. A separate motion will 
be put to the meeting on each substantial issue. 

Appointment of  directors 

The  Board  deals  with  all  matters  relating  to  the  appointment  of  directors  including  determining  the  specification, 
identifying suitable candidates and selection of the appointee. No separate nominations committee has been formed. 

The remuneration committee is responsible for agreeing the executive framework and remuneration policy. 

Throughout the year the Articles of Association have required each director to seek re-election after no more than three 
years in office. Therefore, the Board considers it inappropriate that non-executive directors be appointed for a fixed 
term as recommended by the Code. 

Ian Ritchie 
Chairman 

18 March 2019

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29

Report on Directors’ Renumeration (Unaudited) 
For the year ended 31 December 2018

The  Remuneration  Committee  submits  its  Unaudited  Report  on  Directors’  Remuneration  for  the  year  ended 
31 December 2018.  

Remuneration policy 

The Remuneration Committee is responsible for agreeing the framework and remuneration policy for the executive 
directors and is chaired by Alan Howarth. 

The following Remuneration Report is presented for the year ended 31 December 2018. 

The policy of the Remuneration Committee is to provide executive remuneration packages designed to attract, motivate 
and retain directors of the calibre necessary to manage the Company and to reward them for enhancing shareholder 
value and return. It aims to provide sufficient levels of remuneration to do this but to avoid paying more than is necessary. 

There are three main elements of the directors’ remuneration package being basic annual salary, performance related 
bonus and share option incentives. 

All directors’ salaries are reviewed annually by the Remuneration Committee.  

Unaudited Directors’ remuneration 

The remuneration of each director, excluding share options awards, during the year ended 31 December 2018 is 
detailed in the table below: 

Alan Howarth
Bruce Leith
Sarah Payne
Ian Ritchie
Albert Sisto
Richard Turner

Share based payment charge
Total remuneration

Salary and 
fees
£
24,000
65,000
65,000
30,000
84,473
3,533
272,026
165,267
437,293

Pension
payments
£
–
898
703
–
–
–
1,601
–
1,601

Other 
benefits
£
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–

Annual
bonuses
£
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–

2018
Total
£
24,000
65,898
65,703
30,000
84,473
3,553
273,627
165,267
438,894

2017 
Total 
£ 
23,250 
46,000 
56,194 
17,500 
68,445 
27,591 
238,980 
118,048 
357,028 

Unaudited Directors’ share options 

The Director’s outstanding share options as at 31 December 2018 are shown in the table below: 

Outstanding

Granted Exercised

at 31 during the during the during the
year

year

year

Expired Outstanding    Option
at 31       Price 

December 
2018 

Exercise period 

–
–
–
–
–
–

–
–
–
–
–
–

–
–
–
–
–
–

250,000         13p 23 Feb 2016 – 22 Feb 2023 
2,500,000        8.5p 19 May 2017 – 18 May 2027 
2,500,000        8.5p 19 May 2017 – 18 May 2027 
– 
2,500,000        8.5p 19 May 2017 – 18 May 2027 
7,750,000 

–             –

December
2017
250,000
2,500,000
2,500,000
–
2,500,000
7,750,000

Alan Howarth
Bruce Leith
Sarah Payne
Ian Ritchie
Albert Sisto

Alan Howarth 

18 March 2019

253353 Tern AR pp23-pp37.qxp  21/03/2019  12:23  Page 30

30

Independent auditor’s report to the members of Tern Plc Opinion 
For the year ended 31 December 2018

Our opinion on the financial statements is unmodified 

We have audited the financial statements of Tern Plc (the ‘company’) for the year ended 31 December 2018, which 
comprise the Income statement and statement of comprehensive income, the Statement of financial position, the 
Statement of changes in equity, the Statement of cash flows and notes to the financial statements, including a 
summary  of  significant  accounting  policies.  The  financial  reporting  framework  that  has  been  applied  in  their 
preparation is applicable law and International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRSs) as adopted by the European 
Union. 

In our opinion, the financial statements: 

•

•

•

give a true and fair view of the state of the company’s affairs as at 31 December 2018 and of its loss for the year 
then ended; 

have been properly prepared in accordance with IFRSs as adopted by the European Union; and 

have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006. 

Basis for opinion 

We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. 
Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the ‘Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the 
financial  statements’  section  of  our  report.  We  are  independent  of  the  company  in  accordance  with  the  ethical 
requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the UK, including the FRC’s Ethical Standard 
as applied to listed entities, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. 
We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion. 

Conclusions relating to going concern 

We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which the ISAs (UK) require us to report to 
you where: 

•       the directors’ use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is not 

appropriate; or 

•

the directors have not disclosed in the financial statements any identified material uncertainties that may cast 
significant doubt about the company’s ability to continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting for a 
period of at least twelve months from the date when the financial statements are authorised for issue. 

Overview of  our audit approach 

• Overall materiality: £164,000 based on draft figures, which represents 1% of the company's net assets; 

• Key audit matters were identified for the company was the valuation of investments; and 

• We performed a fully substantive based audit over the company’s financial statements.

Key audit matters 

Key audit matters are those matters that, in our professional judgment, were of most significance in our audit of the 
financial statements of the current period and include the most significant assessed risks of material misstatement 
(whether or not due to fraud) that we identified. These matters included those that had the greatest effect on: the overall 
audit strategy; the allocation of resources in the audit; and directing the efforts of the engagement team. These matters 
were addressed in the context of our audit of the financial statements as a whole, and in forming our opinion thereon, 
and we do not provide a separate opinion on these matters. 

 
 
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31

Independent auditor’s report to the members of Tern Plc Opinion 
For the year ended 31 December 2018

Key Audit Matters

How the matter was addressed in the audit 

Valuation of  investments 

Our audit work included, but was not restricted to:  

A significant balance on the statement of 
financial  position 
Investments  of 
is 
£14.7 million as detailed in Note 11.  

in 

the 

the 

Investments 

represents  79%  of 

Included 
is  an 
investment  in  Device  Authority  Limited 
that 
total 
investments.  The  remaining  value  of 
investments  relates  largely  to  a  new 
investment in the year of £1.9 million in 
Fundamental VR. These investments are 
in early stage businesses in an emerging 
market  where 
lack  of 
there 
observable  inputs  and  as  such  the 
company  has  considered  multiple 
valuation  techniques  to  measure  fair 
value. 

is  a 

There  is  a  risk  that  the  fair  value  of 
investments has not been appropriately 
estimated.    We  therefore  identified  the 
valuation of investments held for trading 
as a significant risk, which was one of the 
most  significant  assessed 
risks  of 
material misstatement.

•

•

•

•

•

•

Challenging the methodologies used by management in conducting 
the investments valuation and challenging management to consider 
other valuation models in line with industry practice. We utilised the 
International Private Equity and Venture Capital Valuation (IPEV) 
guidelines to determine the reasonableness of methods used by 
management. The IPEV has been prepared with the goal that Fair 
Value  measurements  derived  when  using  these  guidelines  are 
compliant with IFRS;   

Testing the mathematical accuracy of the valuation calculations;  

Testing  the  key  inputs  to  the  assumptions  in  the  valuation 
methodologies, which were the price of the most recent funds raised, 
valuation of underlying assets and forecasts of future revenue. This 
was carried out by agreeing management’s analysis to supporting 
evidence and carrying out sensitivity analysis;  

Considering the above methods in aggregate to gain comfort over 
the ultimate fair value recognised by management; 

Incorporating our internal valuation experts into our team to assess 
the appropriateness of the valuation models used and the inputs and 
assumptions incorporated within those models; and  

Evaluating the sufficiency of the disclosures for critical accounting 
estimates  and  judgements  related  to  the  valuation  of  the 
investments. 

The company's accounting policy on investments held for trading is shown 
in note 1 to the financial statements, critical accounting judgements and 
estimates  included  in  note  3  to  the  financial  statements  and  related 
disclosures are included in note 11.   

Key observations 

With respect to the company’s investments, management has used the 
aforementioned valuation models to estimate their fair value. 

We concur with management that there is no change in the value of the 
underlying Device Authority business. 

Our application of  materiality 

We define materiality as the magnitude of misstatement in the financial statements that makes it probable that the 
economic decisions of a reasonably knowledgeable person would be changed or influenced. We use materiality in 
determining the nature, timing and extent of our work and in evaluating the results of that work. 

We determined materiality for the audit of the financial statements as a whole to be £164,000 based on draft figures, 
which is 1% of net assets. This benchmark is considered the most appropriate when considering the nature of the 
business as the client have a significant value of investments on the statement of financial position. Moreover, this is 
used by readers of the financial statements to judge the performance of the company and is a key performance indicator 
for management. 

We use a different level of materiality, performance materiality, to drive the extent of our testing and this was set at 
75% of financial statement materiality. 

  
253353 Tern AR pp23-pp37.qxp  21/03/2019  12:23  Page 32

32

Independent auditor’s report to the members of Tern Plc Opinion 
For the year ended 31 December 2018

The graph below illustrates how performance materiality interacts with our overall materiality and the tolerance for 
potential uncorrected misstatements. 

Overall materiality 

•

Tolerance for potential uncorrected misstatements 

25%

• Performance materiality 

75%

We determined the threshold at which we will communicate misstatements to the audit committee to be £8,000. In 
addition, we will communicate misstatements below that threshold that, in our view, warrant reporting on qualitative 
grounds. 

An overview of  the scope of  our audit 

Our audit approach was a risk-based approach founded on a thorough understanding of the company's business, its 
environment and risk profile and in particular included:  

•

•

•

gaining an understanding of and evaluating the company's internal controls environment including its financial and 
IT systems and controls;  

a fully substantive based audit over the significant investment and other material balances; and 

there have been no significant changes to the key business operations and hence no changes to the audit scope 
for the current year.  

Other information 

The directors are responsible for the other information. The other information comprises the information included in 
the annual report, other than the financial statements and our auditor’s report thereon. Our opinion on the financial 
statements does not cover the other information and, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in our report, we 
do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon. 

In connection with our audit of the financial statements, our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing 
so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge 
obtained in the audit or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or 
apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether there is a material misstatement in the financial 
statements or a material misstatement of the other information. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude 
that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact.  

We have nothing to report in this regard. 

Our opinion on other matters prescribed by the Companies Act 2006 is unmodified 

In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of the audit: 

•

•

the information given in the strategic report and the directors’ report for the financial year for which the financial 
statements are prepared is consistent with the financial statements; and 

 strategic report and the directors’ report have been prepared in accordance with applicable legal requirements. 

 
 
253353 Tern AR pp23-pp37.qxp  21/03/2019  12:23  Page 33

33

Independent auditor’s report to the members of Tern Plc Opinion 
For the year ended 31 December 2018

Matter on which we are required to report under the Companies Act 2006 

In the light of the knowledge and understanding of the company and its environment obtained in the course of the audit, 
we have not identified material misstatements in the strategic report or the directors’ report. 

Matters on which we are required to report by exception 

We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which the Companies Act 2006 requires us 
to report to you if, in our opinion: 

•       adequate accounting records have not been kept, or returns adequate for our audit have not been received from 

branches not visited by us; or 

•       the financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records and returns; or 

•       certain disclosures of directors’ remuneration specified by law are not made; or 

•       we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit.  

Responsibilities of  directors for the financial statements 

As explained more fully in the statement of directors’ responsibilities set out on page 24, the directors are responsible 
for the preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such 
internal control as the directors determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free 
from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error. 

In preparing the financial statements, the directors are responsible for assessing the company’s ability to continue as 
a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of 
accounting unless the directors either intend to liquidate the company or to cease operations, or have no realistic 
alternative but to do so. 

Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of  the financial statements 

Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from 
material  misstatement,  whether  due  to  fraud  or  error,  and  to  issue  an  auditor’s  report  that  includes  our  opinion. 
Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with 
ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and 
are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic 
decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements. 

A further description of our responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements is located on the Financial Reporting 
Council’s website at: www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our auditor’s report. 

Use of  our report 

This report is made solely to the company’s members, as a body, in accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the 
Companies Act 2006. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the company’s members those 
matters we are required to state to them in an auditor’s report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted 
by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the company and the company’s members as 
a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed. 

Nick J Watson 
Senior Statutory Auditor 
for and on behalf of Grant Thornton UK LLP 
Statutory Auditor, Chartered Accountants 
30 Finsbury Square, London, EC2A 1AG 

18 March 2019

253353 Tern AR pp23-pp37.qxp  21/03/2019  12:23  Page 34

34

Income Statement and Statement of Comprehensive Income 
For the year ended 31 December 2018

Turnover

Movement in fair value of investments

Gross profit/(loss)

Administration costs

Other expenses

Operating loss

Finance income

Finance costs

Loss before tax

Tax

Notes

6

7

8

9

2018
£

106,117

775,910

882,027

(792,534)

(476,716)

(387,223)

74,659

–

2017 
£ 

97,940 

(757,705) 

(659,765) 

(740,923) 

(289,680) 

(1,690,368) 

1,020 

(207) 

(312,564)

(1,689,555) 

–

– 

Loss and total comprehensive income for the period

(312,564)

(1,689,555) 

Since there is no other comprehensive income, the loss for the year is the same as the total comprehensive income 
for the year. 

EARNINGS PER SHARE:

Basic and diluted earnings per share

10

(0.1) pence

(1.4) pence

The accompanying accounting policies and notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
253353 Tern AR pp23-pp37.qxp  21/03/2019  12:23  Page 35

35

Statement of Financial Position 
As at 31 December 2018

ASSETS 

NON-CURRENT ASSETS 

Investments

CURRENT ASSETS 

Trade and other receivables

Cash and cash equivalents

TOTAL ASSETS

EQUITY AND LIABILITIES 

Share capital

Share premium

Loan note equity reserve

Share option and warrant reserve

Retained earnings

CURRENT LIABILITIES 

Trade and other payables

TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES

NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES 

Borrowings

TOTAL NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES

TOTAL LIABILITIES

TOTAL EQUITY AND LIABILITIES

Notes

2018
£

2017 
£ 

11

14,856,239

10,218,625 

14,856,239

10,218,625 

12

13

14

14

15

17

239,180

1,913,801

2,152,981

576,849 

273,826 

850,675 

17,009,220

11,069,300 

1,348,903

19,660,434

–

–

1,330,225 

13,237,362 

123,482 

175,982 

(4,257,564)

(4,286,249) 

16,751,773

10,580,802 

257,447

257,447

–

–

257,447

277,164 

277,164 

211,334 

211,334 

488,498 

17,009,220

11,069,300 

The financial statements were approved and authorised for issue by the Board of Directors on 18 March 2019 and 
were signed on its behalf by: 

Sarah Payne 
Director

Company number 05131386 

The accompanying accounting policies and notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

 
 
 
 
 
253353 Tern AR pp23-pp37.qxp  21/03/2019  12:23  Page 36

36

Statement of Changes in Equity 
For the year ended 31 December 2018

Share
capital
£

Share
premium
£

Loan note 
equity
reserve
£

 Warrant
reserve
£

Retained
earnings
£

Total 
equity 
£ 

Balance at 31 December 2016

1,325,270

12,390,310

20,650

1,088,595

(3,637,086) 11,187,739 

Total comprehensive income

–

–

Transactions with owners 

Issue of share capital

4,955

972,208

–

–

Issue of convertible loan note

Share issue costs

Transfer on conversion of  
convertible loan notes

Transfer of lapsed and  
exercised warrants

Transfer of option reserve

Share based payment charge

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

112,563

(125,156)

–

(9,731)

–

–

–

–

–

(1,689,555)

(1,689,555) 

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

977,163 

112,563 

(125,156) 

9,731

713,326

199,287

118,048

– 

– 

– 

118,048 

–

–

–

(713,326)

(199,287)

–

Balance at 31 December 2017

1,330,225

13,237,362

123,482

175,982

(4,286,249) 10,580,802 

Total comprehensive income

–

–

Transactions with owners 

Issue of share capital

18,678

6,861,072

Share issue costs

Conversion of convertible loan note 

Transfer of lapsed warrants

Share based payment charge

Transfer on conversion of loan notes

–

–

–

–

–

(603,000)

–

–

–

165,000

Balance at 31 December 2018

1,348,903

19,660,434

–

–

–

(123,482)

–

–

–

–

(312,564)

(312,564) 

–

–

–

6,879,750 

(603,000) 

(123,482) 

–

–

–

–

(175,982)

–

–

–

175,982

165,267

– 

165,267 

–

165,000 

(4,257,564) 16,751,773 

Share capital 

The amount subscribed for shares at nominal value. 

Share premium 

This represents the excess of the amount subscribed for share capital over the nominal value of the respective shares 
net of share issue expenses. 

Loan note equity reserve 

This represents the equity component of convertible loans issued. 

Warrant reserve 

This represents the calculated value of the warrants issued. 

Retained earnings 

Cumulative loss of the Company.

The accompanying accounting policies and notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

 
 
253353 Tern AR pp23-pp37.qxp  21/03/2019  12:23  Page 37

37

Statement of Cash Flows 
For the year ended 31 December 2018

OPERATING ACTIVITIES 
Net cash used in operations
Purchase of investments
Loan to investee companies

Notes

21

2018
£

(752,350)
(2,523,309)
(1,033,316)

2017 
£ 

(783,866) 
(375,000) 
(402,436) 

Net cash used in operating activities

(4,308,975)

(1,561,302) 

FINANCING ACTIVITIES 
Proceeds on issues of shares
Share issue expenses
Proceeds from exercise of warrants
Proceeds from exercise of options
Proceeds on issue of loan note
Repayment of loan stock
Interest received

Net cash from financing activities

Increase/(Decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year

Cash and cash equivalents at end of year

6,010,000
(603,000)
–
8,500
550,000
(20,000)
3,450

603,110 
(125,156) 
34,303 
9,000 
550,000 
– 
1,020 

5,948,950

1,072,277 

1,639,975

273,826

1,913,801

(489,025) 

762,851 

273,826 

The accompanying accounting policies and notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
253353 Tern AR pp38-end.qxp  21/03/2019  12:26  Page 38

38

Notes to the Financial Statements 
For the year ended 31 December 2018

1.

ACCOUNTING POLICIES 

The principal accounting policies adopted in the preparation of these financial statements are set out below.  

1.1

GENERAL INFORMATION 
Tern plc is an investing company specialising in private software companies, predominantly in the Internet of 
Things. 

The Company is a public limited company, incorporated in England and Wales, with its shares traded on AIM, 
a market of that name operated by the London Stock Exchange. 

The address of Tern’s registered office is 27/28 Eastcastle Street, London W1W 8DH. Items included in the 
financial statements of the Company are measured in Pound Sterling, which is the Company’s presentational 
and functional currency. 

1.2

BASIS OF PREPARATION 
The financial statements of the Company have been prepared in accordance with International Financial 
Reporting Standards (IFRSs) adopted by the European Union (EU) and therefore the financial statements 
comply with Article 4 of the EU IAS Regulation. 

IFRS is subject to amendment and interpretation by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) and 
the International Financial Reporting Interpretations Committee (IFRIC) and there is an ongoing process of 
review and endorsement by the European Commission. The financial statements have been prepared on the 
basis of the recognition and measurement principles of the IFRS that were applicable at 31 December 2018. 

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires 
the use of estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of 
the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. 
Although these estimates are based on management’s best knowledge of the amount, event or actions, actual 
results may ultimately differ from those estimates. 

The financial statements have been prepared on the historical cost basis except for investments and certain 
financial instruments which are measured at fair value at the end of each reporting period. Historical cost is 
generally based on the fair value of the consideration given in exchange for the assets. The principal accounting 
policies set out below have been consistently applied to all periods presented, except where stated. 

In accordance with IFRS 10, par 4 and following a reassessment of whether the Company is an investment 
company, the Company has taken the exemption not to present consolidated financial statements or apply 
IFRS3 when it obtains control of another entity as it is an investing company that measures all of its investments 
at fair value through the income statement in accordance with IFRS 9.  

1.3

GOING CONCERN 
The financial statements have been prepared on the going concern basis. 

The directors have a reasonable expectation that the Company has adequate resources to continue operating 
for the foreseeable future. For this reason, they continue to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the 
Company’s financial statements. This has been assessed using detailed cash flow analysis so that the Board 
can conclude that the Company has sufficient working capital resources to continue for at least 12 months 
without any additional financing requirement. In the event that opportunities are presented such that additional 
funding was required, management are confident that they would be able to obtain additional funds from 
various sources. 

253353 Tern AR pp38-end.qxp  21/03/2019  12:26  Page 39

39

Notes to the Financial Statements 
For the year ended 31 December 2018

1.

1.4

ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued) 

STATEMENT OF COMPLIANCE 

International Financial Reporting Standards (“Standards”) in issue but not yet effective 

The Company has not applied the following new and revised IFRSs that have been issued but are not yet 
effective: 

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

IFRS 16 Leases (issued on 13 January 2016 and effective for periods on or after 1 January 2019) 

Annual improvements to IFRS 2015-2017 Cycle (issued 12 December 2017) – Relating to IAS 12 
Income taxes, IAS 23 Borrowing costs, IFRS 3 Business combinations and IFRS 11 Joint Arrangements 

IFRIC Interpretation 23 Uncertainty over Income Tax Treatments (issued in June 2017 and not yet 
endorsed) 

Amendments to References to the Conceptual Framework in IFRS Standards (issued in March 2018) 

Plan Amendment, Curtailment or Settlement (Amendments to IAS 19) issued in February 2018 

Prepayment Features with Negative Compensation (Amendments to IFRS 9) effective for periods on 
or after 1 January 2019 

Long-term Interests in Associates and Joint Ventures (Amendments to IAS 28) effective for periods on 
or after 1 January 2019 

1 January 2021 IFRS 17 Insurance Contracts effective for periods on or after 1 January 2021 

Sale or Contribution of Assets between an Investor and its Associate or Joint Venture (Amendments to 
IFRS 10 and IAS 28) effective date deferred 

1.5

ADOPTION OF NEW AND REVISED STANDARDS 
On 1 January 2018, the Company adopted International Financial Reporting Standard 9 Financial Instruments 
(IFRS 9). IFRS 9 replaces IAS 39 Financial Instruments: Recognition and Measurement and introduces new 
requirements  for:  the  classification  and  measurement  of  financial  instruments,  the  recognition  and 
measurement of credit impairment provisions, and provides for a simplified approach to hedge accounting. 
The Company has adopted the transition approach and therefore the option has been taken not to restate any 
comparatives. There has been no material change to the carrying value of any financial instruments or on any 
financial statement line items as a result of adopting this new IFRS.  

On 1 January 2018, the Company adopted International Financial Reporting Standard 15 Revenue from 
Contracts  with  Customers  (IFRS  15). The  standard  provides  a  single  comprehensive  model  for  revenue 
recognition. The core principle of the standard is that an entity shall recognise revenue to depict the transfer 
of promised goods or services to customers at an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity 
expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. The standard introduced a new contract-based 
revenue recognition model with a measurement approach that is based on an allocation of the transaction 
price. Credit risk is presented separately as an expense rather than adjusted against revenue. Contracts with 
customers are presented in an entity’s statement of financial position as a contract liability, a contract asset, 
or a receivable, depending on the relationship between the entity’s performance and the customer’s payment. 
Customer acquisition costs and costs to fulfil a contract can, subject to certain criteria, be capitalised as an 
asset and amortised over the contract period. The Company has adopted the transition approach and therefore 
the option has been taken not to restate any comparatives. There has been no material change to net assets 
or on any financial statement line items as a result of adopting this new IFRS. 

253353 Tern AR pp38-end.qxp  21/03/2019  12:26  Page 40

40

Notes to the Financial Statements 
For the year ended 31 December 2018

1.

1.6

ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued) 

TURNOVER 
The  Company  has  applied  IFRS  15  using  the  cumulative  effect  method  and  therefore  the  comparative 
information has not been restated and continues to be reported under IAS 18.  

Revenue is recognised at an amount that reflects the consideration to which the Company is expected to be 
entitled in exchange for transferring services to an investment company or recharging legal advice to an 
investment company. For each contract with an investment company there is only one performance obligation 
in  the  contract  and  the  transaction  price  is  readily  identifiable.  Revenue  is  recognised  when  or  as  each 
performance obligation is satisfied in a manner that depicts the transfer to the investment company of the 
goods or services promised. 

There is no variable consideration within the transaction price. 

Rendering of services 
Revenue from a contract to provide services is recognised over time as the services are rendered based on 
either a fixed price or an hourly rate. 

1.7

TAXATION 
The charge for current tax is based on the results for the period as adjusted for items which are non-assessable 
or disallowed. It is calculated using rates that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the statement 
of financial position date. 

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognised where the carrying amount of an asset or liability in the 
statement of financial position differs to its tax base, except for differences arising on: 

•

•

the initial recognition of an asset or liability which is not a business combination and at the time of the 
transaction affects neither accounting or taxable profit; and 

investments in subsidiaries and jointly controlled entities where the Company is able to control the 
timing of the reversal of the difference and it is probable that the difference will not reverse in the 
foreseeable future. 

Recognition of deferred tax assets is restricted to those instances where it is probable that the taxable profit 
will be available against which the differences can be utilised. 

The amount of the asset or liability is determined using tax rates that have been enacted or substantially 
enacted  by  the  reporting  date  and  are  expected  to  apply  when  the  deferred  tax  liabilities/(assets)  are 
settled/(recovered). Deferred tax balances are not discounted. 

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41

Notes to the Financial Statements 
For the year ended 31 December 2018

1.

1.8

ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued) 

IMPAIRMENT OF FINANCIAL ASSETS 
Assets carried at fair value through profit or loss (FVTPL) 
Under IFRS 9 no impairment testing is required for equity investments which are measured at fair value through 
other comprehensive income (“FVOCI”) or fair value through profit or loss (“FVTPL”). This is a change from  
the treatment under IAS 39, when assets were carried at fair value, but does not result in a material change 
in the net asset value or on any financial statement line items for the Company. 

Under  IFRS  9,  the  change  in  lifetime  expected  credit  losses  for  trade  receivables  is  recognised  as  an 
impairment gain or loss in the income statement. 

1.9

INVESTMENTS 
The investment valuation consists of equity investments and convertible loan notes issued to an investment 
company. The convertible loan note is a financial liability with multiple embedded derivatives which includes a 
warrant instrument. IFRS 9 permits the entire contract to be designated at FVTPL 

In accordance with IFRS 10, par 4, investments are recognised at FVTPL in line with guidance set out in 
IFRS 9. In the prior year, the investments were recognised at fair value in line with guidance set out in IAS 39. 
The treatment in 2018 has not resulted in a material change to the accounting treatment adopted previously 
under IAS 39. Changes in foreign exchange rates impact investments valued in a foreign currency. 

TRADE RECEIVABLES 
Trade receivables are classified as a financial asset and are valued at amortised cost in accordance with 
IFRS 9. Previously, trade receivables were also measured at amortised cost under the category loans and 
receivables in accordance with IAS 39. Therefore, there is no material change in their treatment in the transition. 
A  provision  for  impairment  of  trade  receivables  is  established  when  there  is  objective  evidence  that  the 
Company will not be able to collect all amounts due according to the original terms of receivables. The amount 
of the provision is calculated as the change in lifetime expected credit losses and recognised in the income 
statement, in accordance with IFRS 9.  

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS 
Cash and cash equivalents are carried in the statement of financial position. Cash and cash equivalents 
comprise cash in hand, deposits held at call with banks, other short term highly liquid investments with original 
maturities of three months or less and bank overdrafts. Bank overdrafts are included within borrowings in 
current liabilities on the statement of financial position. 

TRADE PAYABLES 
Trade payables are financial liabilities measured at amortised cost in accordance with IFRS 9. In previous 
years trade payables were measured at amortised cost in accordance with IAS 39 and therefore there is no 
material change in their treatment in 2018. 

1.10

1.11

1.12

1.13

EQUITY INSTRUMENTS 
Equity instruments are recorded at the proceeds received net of direct issue costs.  

1.14

CONVERTIBLE LOANS 

Financial assets 
Convertible loans provided to investment companies are evaluated with reference to IFRS 9. The convertible 
loan facility issued to Device Authority is a financial asset with multiple embedded derivatives and a warrant 
instrument. IFRS 9 permits the entire contract to be designated at FVTPL. The loan facility provided to flexiOPS 
is a financial asset designated at FVTPL. Assets are measured at fair value at each reporting date, with any 
movement in fair value taken to profit or loss for the year. In previous years the loans to investment companies 
were valued at fair value in accordance with IAS 39. There has been no material change in treatment with the 
transition to IFRS 9.  

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42

Notes to the Financial Statements 
For the year ended 31 December 2018

1.

ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued) 

1.14

CONVERTIBLE LOANS (continued) 

Financial liabilities 
Convertible loans obtained as a means of finance for the Company are accounted for in line with IFRS 9. The 
convertible loan facility taken out in 2017 was a financial liability with multiple embedded derivatives. IFRS 9 
(paragraph 4.3.5) permits the entire contract to be designated at FVTPL. The facility was available to draw 
down in tranches and fair value was assumed to be face value on issue of each tranche as the debt was issued 
at arms length and any fair value movement taken to profit or loss for the year. There has been no material 
change in treatment with the transition to IFRS 9. On issue of convertible loan notes with an obligation to issue 
a variable number of shares the Company accounts for the loan notes in their entirety as a liability. On receipt 
of a conversion notice from the convertible loan note holder, which results in the number of shares becoming 
fixed at that point, the company considers the liability to have been settled with an obligation instead to deliver 
to the note holders equity (i.e. a fixed number of shares). Therefore the total expense is calculated as the 
difference between the proceeds received on issue and the value of the fixed number of shares to be issued 
measured on the date the conversion notice is received. 

This is a change in policy from the prior year, in 2017 the conversion point for the convertible loan note was 
assessed as the date admission of the shares took place. This year, the conversion point has been taken as 
the date the conversion notice was received. If this has been applied in the prior year, the £162,437 convertible 
loan balance in borrowings would have been reflected in an equity reserve. This is believed to be a more 
accurate reflection of the release of the legal obligation for the liability. The change in policy does not have a 
material impact on the prior year results.  

1.15

SHARE BASED PAYMENTS 
All share based payments are accounted for in accordance with IFRS 2 – “Share-based payments”. The 
Company  issues  equity-settled  share  based  payments  in  the  form  of  share  options  to  certain  directors, 
employees and advisors. Equity settled share based payments are measured at fair value at the date of grant. 
The fair value determined at the grant date of equity-settled share based payments is expensed on a straight 
line  basis  over  the  vesting  period,  with  a  corresponding  adjustment  to  retained  earnings,  based  on  the 
Company’s estimate of shares that will eventually vest. 

Fair value is estimated using the Black-Scholes model as relevant for the terms and conditions of the options. 
The expected life used in the model has been adjusted, on the basis of management’s best estimate for the 
effects of non-transferability, exercise restrictions and behavioural considerations. At each statement of financial 
position date, the Company revises its estimate of the number of equity instruments expected to vest as a 
result of the effect of non-market based vesting conditions. The impact of the revision of the original estimates, 
if any, is recognised in profit or loss such that the cumulative expense reflects the revised estimate, with a 
corresponding adjustment to retained earnings. 

1.16 WARRANTS 

All warrants are accounted for in accordance with IAS 32 – Financial Instruments. From time to time, the 
company issues warrants with a right to acquire a fixed number of the company’s own equity instruments for 
a fixed amount of currency. The warrants are assessed as equity instruments under IAS 32, based on the 
statement that a contract that will be settled by the entity delivering a fixed number of its own equity instruments 
in exchange for a fixed amount of cash (IAS 32.22) is an equity instrument. 

2.

FINANCIAL RISK MANAGEMENT 

The Company uses a limited number of financial instruments, comprising cash, convertible loans and various 
items such as trade receivables and payables, which arise directly from operations. The Company does not 
trade in financial instruments. 

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43

Notes to the Financial Statements 
For the year ended 31 December 2018

2.

2.1

FINANCIAL RISK MANAGEMENT (continued) 

FINANCIAL RISK FACTORS 
The Company’s financial instruments comprise its investment portfolio, loans to portfolio companies, cash 
balances, debtors and creditors that arise directly from its operations. There are also loan notes that do not 
arise from operations and are funding from investors. The Company is exposed to market risk through the use 
of financial instruments and specifically to liquidity risk, market price risk and credit risk, which result from the 
Company’s operating activities. 

The Board’s policy for managing these risks is summarised below. 

Liquidity risk 
The Company makes investments in private companies for the medium term. The Company manages this 
risk by holding cash to support its investments and for working capital. The Company ensures it has sufficient 
cash through a combination of means including proceeds from asset sales, equity raises and, in the past, the 
use of convertible loan notes. The financial performance and position of the investee companies are regularly 
monitored to assess when further investment may be required, this includes a review of cash flow forecasts. 
Whilst the Company has no quoted investments at present, if it holds such investments these may be sold to 
meet the Company’s funding requirements. 

The  Company’s  income  and  operating  cash  flows  are  substantially  independent  of  changes  in  market 
interest rates. 

The following table shows the contractual maturities of the Company’s financial liabilities, including repayments 
of both principal and interest where applicable. 

As at 31 December 2018

6 months or less

6 months to 2 years

Total contractual cash flows

Trade and 
other Payables
£

257,447

–

257,447

Total 
£ 

257,447 

– 

257,447 

Market price risk 
When the Company owns quoted investments, it will be exposed to market price risk as shown by movements 
in the value of its equity investments. Any such risk will be regularly monitored by the directors. 

The convertible loan note held in Device Authority also exposes the Company to market price variation as the 
conversion possibilities include a price to be set by a qualifying fundraise.  

The investments currently held are not liquid as all the investments are unquoted.  

Foreign exchange risk 
The Company generally conducts its business within the UK, however some of its investments are valued 
based on a US dollar valuation, particularly Device Authority Limited, the most significant investment, and 
therefore their value can change dependent on currency exchange movement. To the extent that exchange 
rate fluctuations impact the value of the Company’s investments in its foreign subsidiaries, they are not hedged. 

Credit risk 
The Company’s primary credit risk arises from loans made to its investment companies and trade receivables. 
Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of 
accounts receivable and derivative instruments. These instruments contain a risk of counterparties failing to 
discharge their obligations. The Company monitors credit risk and manages credit risk exposure by type of 
financial instrument by assessing the creditworthiness of counterparties. The Company does not anticipate 
non-performance by counterparties, however it generally requires security over the companies’ assets to 
support financial instruments with credit risk. 

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44

Notes to the Financial Statements 
For the year ended 31 December 2018

2.

2.1

2.2

2.3

FINANCIAL RISK MANAGEMENT (continued) 

FINANCIAL RISK FACTORS (continued) 
The Company derives a significant percentage of revenue from a small number of investments. Sales to these 
investment companies are not expected to fluctuate significantly and are not significant in value.  

The credit risk on loans is low as the expectation is to convert loan balances on realisation of the assets. The 
credit risk on trade receivables is low due to the generally low balance held.  

The  maximum  credit  exposure  is  equal  to  the  carrying  values  of  cash  at  bank,  accounts  receivable  and 
investments. 

CAPITAL RISK MANAGEMENT 
The Company’s objectives when managing capital are to safeguard the Company’s ability to continue as a 
going concern in order to provide returns for shareholders, benefits for other stakeholders and to maintain an 
optimal capital structure to reduce the cost of capital. 

The Company monitors capital on the basis of carrying amount of equity, less cash and cash equivalents as 
presented on the face of the statement of financial position. In order to maintain or adjust the capital structure, 
the Company may adjust the amount of dividends paid to shareholders, return capital to shareholders, issue 
new shares or sell assets to reduce debt. 

FAIR VALUE ESTIMATION 
The nominal value less impairment provision of trade receivables and payables is assumed to approximate to 
their fair values. The fair value of financial assets is based on an assessment of returns from the conversion 
or  repayment  of  the  loans.  The  fair  value  of  financial  liabilities  for  disclosure  purposes  is  estimated  by 
discounting the future contractual cash flows at the current market interest rate that is available to the Company 
for similar financial instruments. 

The fair value of trade receivables is estimated at fair value less provision for impairment. A provision for 
impairment of trade receivables is established when there is objective evidence that the Company will not be 
able to collect all amounts due according to the original terms of receivables. The amount of the provision is 
calculated  as  the  change  in  lifetime  expected  credit  losses  and  recognised  in  the  income  statement,  in 
accordance with IFRS 9. 

3.

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES AND JUDGEMENTS 

Estimates and judgements are continually evaluated and are based on historical experience and other factors, 
including expectations of future events that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. 

The Company makes estimates and assumptions concerning the future. The resulting accounting estimates 
will, by definition, rarely equal the related actual results. The key sources of estimation uncertainty that have 
a significant risk of causing a material adjustment to the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities within the 
next financial year are outlined below. 

ESTIMATES 

Fair value of financial instruments 
The Company holds investments that have been designated as held for trading on initial recognition. Where 
practicable the Company determines the fair value of these financial instruments that are not quoted (Level 3) 
using the most recent bid price at which a transaction has been carried out. These techniques are significantly 
affected by certain key assumptions, such as market liquidity. Given the nature of the investments being early 
stage business, other valuation methods such as discounted cash flow analysis to assess estimates of future 
cash flows and derive fair value estimates cannot always be substantiated by comparison with independent 
markets and, in many cases, may not be capable of being realised immediately.

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45

Notes to the Financial Statements 
For the year ended 31 December 2018

3.

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES AND JUDGEMENTS (continued) 

Device Authority has maintained its US dollar valuation compared to 2017 without a bid price comparison in 
the year. It is an early stage business in an emerging market where there is a lack of comparative businesses 
available on which to provide a comparable valuation and therefore valuation was based on a combination of 
factors including the independent valuation of Device Authority’s patent portfolio, a comparison to transaction 
multiples in comparable market sectors and an evaluation of sales pipeline and 2019 trading forecast. This 
supported a valuation in line with 2017, although an exchange rate gain was recognised on translation at the 
balance sheet date. Although the US capital raise has not yet closed, fundraising activities continue in search 
for a key strategic US partner. The higher price used for these fundraising activities has not been reflected in 
the fair value assessment. 

The Company holds financial assets that have been held at FVTPL. The value of the convertible loan note 
has been estimated by assessing the probability of each possible redemption or conversion scenario and 
accounting for this within the overall fair value assessment. 

JUDGEMENTS 

Investments held at FVTPL 
The critical judgement that has a significant risk of causing a material adjustment to the carrying amounts of 
assets and liabilities within the next financial year is the assessment that investments should be held at fair 
value through the profit and loss rather than being consolidated. This assessment was reached following a 
review of all the key conditions for an investment entity, as set out in IFRS 10 and the Company was judged 
to have met those key conditions as follows: 

•

•

•

The Company obtains funds from one or more investors for the purpose of providing those investor(s) 
with investment management services; 

The Company commits to its investors that its business purpose is to invest funds solely for returns 
from capital appreciation, investment income, or both; and  

The Company measures and evaluates the performance of substantially all of its investments on a fair 
value basis. 

In coming to this conclusion, the Company also judged that its investment-related activities do not represent 
a separate substantial business activity or a separate substantial source of income to the investment entity.  

4.

SEGMENTAL REPORTING 

The accounting policy for identifying segments is based on internal management reporting information that is 
regularly reviewed by the chief operating decision maker, which is identified as the Board of Directors. 

In  identifying  its  operating  segments,  management  generally  follows  the  Company’s  service  lines  which 
represent the main products and services provided by the Company. The directors believe that the Company’s 
continuing investment operations comprise one segment. 

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46

Notes to the Financial Statements 
For the year ended 31 December 2018

5.

STAFF COSTS 

Staff costs for the Company during the year, including directors

Wages and salaries

Consultancy fees

Social security costs

Share based payment charge

Total staff costs

2018
£

279,521

24,000

31,860

165,267

500,648

2017 
£ 

203,864 

82,908 

22,943 

118,048 

427,763 

The average number of people (including executive directors) employed by the Company during the year was: 

Directors

Employees

Total

2018
No

5

1

6

2017 
No 

5 

– 

5 

DIRECTORS’ AND REMUNERATION 
Other than directors the Company had one employee. Total remuneration paid to directors during the year 
was as follows: 

Directors’ remuneration 

– Salaries and benefits

– Consultancy fees

– Share based payment charge

– Social Security costs

Total directors’ remuneration

2018
£

249,627

24,000

165,267

28,393

467,287

2017 
£ 

203,864 

82,908 

118,048 

22,943 

427,763 

Total remuneration of the highest paid director (including share based  
payment charge) was

139,562

97,957 

A summary of remuneration paid to each director, including pension payments, is included in the Report on 
Directors’ Remuneration (page 29). 

Key management personnel is deemed to consist solely of the statutory directors. 

6.

OTHER EXPENSES 

Share based payment (options)

Other provisions

One-off legal costs

Transaction costs associated with convertible loan note

Discount on issue of convertible loan note

2018
£

165,267

88,868

57,581

55,000

110,000

476,716

2017 
£ 

118,048 

71,000 

100,632 

– 

– 

289,680 

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47

Notes to the Financial Statements 
For the year ended 31 December 2018

7.

OPERATING LOSS 

Loss from operations has been arrived at after charging: 

Remuneration of directors

467,287

427,763 

Fees payable to the Company’s auditor for services provided to the  
Company: 

2018
£

2017 
£ 

– Audit services

– Audit related services

– Tax compliance services

– Tax advisory services

Fees payable by Device Authority to the Company’s auditor for  
services provided to Device Authority1 

– Audit related services

– Tax compliance services

– Tax advisory services

27,400

20,000

3,500

45,675

8,250

8,500

–

1 Device Authority fees are noted for information. They are paid by Device Authority Limited. 

8.

FINANCE INCOME 

Bank interest

Interest income in respect of shareholder convertible loan notes

Interest accrued on investment company’s convertible loan notes

9.

TAXATION 

Taxation attributable to the Company

2018
£

3,450

3,567

67,642

74,659

2018
£

–

25,000 

– 

3,500 

18,750 

8,000 

3,500 

5,500 

2017 
£ 

1,020 

– 

– 

1,020 

2017 
£ 

– 

Domestic income tax is calculated at 19% (2017: 20%) of the estimated assessable profit for the year. The 
charge for the year can be reconciled to the loss per the income statement as follows: 

Loss before tax

Tax at domestic income tax rate

Expenses not deductible for tax purposes

Income not deductible for tax purposes

Unutilised tax losses

Tax (credit)/expense

2018
£

2017 
£ 

(312,564)

(1,689,555) 

(59,387)

65,409

(123,479)

117,457

–

(337,911) 

179,835 

(3,524) 

161,600 

– 

The Company has unutilised losses of approximately £5.9 million (2017: £5.9 million) resulting in a deferred 
tax asset of approximately £1.2 million (2017: £1.2 million). The losses do not have an expiry date. The 
Company has not recognised a deferred tax asset in respect of these losses as there is insufficient evidence 
of future taxable profits. Most asset sales are expected to be exempt from taxation due to the substantial 
shareholding exemption (SSE). 

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48

Notes to the Financial Statements 
For the year ended 31 December 2018

10.

EARNINGS PER SHARE 

Loss for the purposes of basic and fully diluted loss per share

(312,564)

(1,689,555) 

2018
£

2017 
£ 

Weighted average number of ordinary shares: 

For calculation of basic earnings per share

For calculation of fully diluted earnings per share

Loss per share: 

Basic and diluted loss per share

2018
Number

2017 
Number 

217,221,165

124,586,665 

221,079,230

124,586,665 

2018

2017 

(0.1) pence

(1.4) pence 

Note: The fully diluted loss per share for 2018 and 2017 is the same as the basic loss per share as the loss 
for the year has an anti-dilutive effect on earnings per share. 

11.

NON­CURRENT ASSETS 

INVESTMENTS  

2018
£

2017 
£ 

Cost of investments brought forward

10,218,625

10,601,330 

Reclassification of convertible loan note from other debtors

Interest accrued on convertible loan note

Additions

Cost of investments carried forward

Fair value adjustment to investments

Fair value of investments carried forward

Fair value of equity investments

Fair value of convertible loans

Fair value of investments

1,270,753

67,642

2,523,309

– 

– 

375,000 

14,080,329

10,976,330 

775,910

(757,705) 

14,856,239

10,218,625 

9,337,041

5,519,198

10,218,625 

– 

14,856,239

10,218,625 

The convertible loan facility issued to Device Authority is a financial liability with multiple derivatives and the 
entire contract has been designated at FVTPL, with any movement in fair profit or loss for the year. The 
convertible loan note has been secured with a charge over Device Authority’s intellectual property. 

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49

Notes to the Financial Statements 
For the year ended 31 December 2018

12.

TRADE AND OTHER RECEIVABLES 

Trade receivables

Prepayments

Loan to investee companies

Other receivables

Total

2018
£

38,958

22,874

165,000

12,348

239,180

2017 
£ 

100,714 

5,683 

402,436 

68,016 

576,849 

The directors consider that the carrying amount of trade and other receivables approximates to their fair value. 
There is no provision for bad debt. 

The other classes within trade and other receivables do not contain impaired assets. 

The maximum exposure to credit risk at the reporting date is the fair value of the trade receivables and investee 
company receivables mentioned above. The investee company receivables are secured on the assets of the 
companies. 

13.

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS 

Cash at bank

2018
£

2017 
£ 

1,913,801

273,826 

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50

Notes to the Financial Statements 
For the year ended 31 December 2018

14.

ISSUED SHARE CAPITAL 

ISSUED AND FULLY PAID: 

At 31 December 2017 

Ordinary shares of £0.0002

Deferred shares of £29.999

Deferred shares of £0.00099

Number of shares
No.

Nominal value
£

Share premium 
£ 

143,286,855

28,657 

42,247

1,267,368 

34,545,072

34,200 

177,874,174

1,330,225

13,237,362 

Ordinary shares issued for cash

Ordinary shares issued on conversion of loan stock

Ordinary shares issued on exercise of share options

Share issue expenses

Transfer on conversion of loan notes

49,925,747

43,364,285

100,000

–

–

9,985

8,673

20

–

–

6,000,015 

852,577 

8,480 

(603,000) 

165,000 

At 31 December 2018 

Ordinary shares of £0.0002

Deferred shares of £29.999

Deferred shares of £0.00099

271,264,206

1,348,903

19,660,434 

236,676,887

47,335 

42,247

1,267,368 

34,545,072

34,200 

271,264,206

1,348,903

19,660,434 

On  5  January  2018,  15,714,285  ordinary  shares  of  0.02p  were  issued  on  conversion  of  loan  stock  at 
1.75p per share. 

On  18  January  2018,  2,900,000  ordinary  shares  of  0.02p  were  issued  to  a  director  of  the  Company  on 
conversion of loan stock at 1.25p per share. 

On  22  January  2018,  11,000,000  ordinary  shares  of  0.02p  were  issued  on  conversion  of  loan  stock  at 
2.5p per share. 

On  22  February  2018,  13,750,000  ordinary  shares  of  0.02p  were  issued  on  conversion  of  loan  stock  at 
2p per share. 

On 13 March 2018 25,490,196 ordinary shares were issued at 2.55p per share for cash as the result of an 
unconditional placing raising £650,000 before expenses. 

On 8 May 2018 3,783,784 ordinary shares were issued at 18.5p per share for cash as the result of a private 
placing, raising £700,000 before expenses. 

On 14 May 2018, 9,459,460 ordinary shares were issued at 18.5p per share for cash as the result of a private 
placing, raising £1,750,000 before expenses. 

On 19 June 2018, 100,000 ordinary shares of 0.02p were issued on exercise of options at 8.5p per share to 
an employee of a portfolio company as part of their remuneration package. 

On 30 July 2018, 11,192,307 ordinary shares were issued at 26p per share for cash as the result of a private 
placing, raising £2,910,000 before expenses. 

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51

Notes to the Financial Statements 
For the year ended 31 December 2018

15.

TRADE AND OTHER PAYABLES 

Trade payables

Accruals

Payroll control

Other taxes and social security

Total

2018
£

64,370

185,138

–

7,939

257,447

2017 
£ 

47,600 

201,580 

18,699 

9,285 

277,164 

The directors consider that the carrying amount of trade payables approximates to their fair value. 

16.

FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENT 

FINANCIAL ASSETS 
The Company classifies its financial instruments in the following categories: at fair value through profit or loss, 
held to maturity, loans and receivables, and available-for-sale. The classification depends on the purpose for 
which  the  financial  instrument  was  acquired.  Management  determines  the  classification  of  its  financial 
instruments at initial recognition and re-evaluates this designation at each financial period end. 

When financial assets are recognised initially, they are measured at fair value, being the transaction price plus 
directly attributable transaction costs. 

FAIR VALUE THROUGH PROFIT OR LOSS (FVTPL) 

Investments 
All investments are determined upon initial recognition as held at fair value through profit or loss. Investment 
transactions are accounted for on a trade date basis. Asset sales are recognised at the trade date of the 
disposal. Assets are sold at their fair value, which comprises the proceeds of sale less any transaction cost. 
The fair value of the financial instruments in the statement of financial position is based on the quoted bid price 
at the statement of financial position date, with no deduction for any estimated future selling cost. Unquoted 
investments are valued by the directors using primary valuation techniques such as recent transactions, last 
price and net asset value. Changes in the fair value of investments held at fair value through profit or loss and 
gains and losses on disposal are recognised in the statement of comprehensive income as “movement in fair 
value of investments”. Investments are measured at fair value in accordance with IFRS 9. This is either the 
bid price or the last traded price, depending on the convention of the exchange on which the investment is 
quoted. Details of the valuation technique for each individual investment is set out in the Investment Report 
on pages 18 to 21. 

The Company determines the fair value of its investments based on the following hierarchy: 

LEVEL 1 – Where financial instruments are traded in active financial markets, fair value is determined by 
reference to the appropriate quoted market price at the reporting date. Active markets are those in which 
transactions occur in significant frequency and volume to provide pricing information on an on-going basis. 

LEVEL 2 – If there is no active market, fair value is established using valuation techniques, including discounted 
cash flow models. The inputs to these models are taken from observable market data including recent arms 
length market transactions, and comparisons to the current fair value of similar instruments; but where this is 
not feasible, inputs such as liquidity risk, credit risk and volatility are used. 

LEVEL 3 – Valuations in this level are those with inputs that are not based on observable market data. 

253353 Tern AR pp38-end.qxp  21/03/2019  12:26  Page 52

52

Notes to the Financial Statements 
For the year ended 31 December 2018

16.

FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENT (continued) 

The following table shows the Levels within the hierarchy of investments measured at fair value on a recurring 
basis at 31 December 2018 and 31 December 2017: 

31 December 2018

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Total 

Equity investments (£)

Convertible loan notes (£)

Total investments

See note 11 for more detail. 

–

–

–

–

–

–

9,337,041

5,519,198

9,337,041 

5,519,198 

14,856,239

14,856,239 

31 December 2017

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Total 

Investments (£)

Convertible loan notes (£)

–

–

–

–

10,218,625

10,218,625 

382,436

382,436 

The fair value assessment was made by the directors’ using the price of the shares in the most recent fundraise, 
where this was available as well as an assessment of market valuations placed on comparable businesses, a 
review  of  the  underlying  asset  values  and  a  review  of  the  sales  pipeline  and  forecast  to  support  any 
valuation applied. The fair value of the investment in Device Authority includes an assessment of the probability 
of  each  possible  redemption  or  conversion  scenario  and  accounting  for  this  within  the  overall  fair  value 
assessment. This includes conversion on a qualifying fundraise, conversion on an exit and redemption at a 
premium. If the probability of the most sensitive variable varies by 1% the impact on the overall valuation is 
approximately £40,000. 

Convertible loans provided to investment companies are evaluated with reference to IFRS 9. The financial 
asset will be measured and accounted for at FVTPL. Assets are measured at fair value at each reporting date, 
with any movement in fair value taken to profit or loss for the year. 

Financial instruments at amortised cost 
Non-convertible loans and receivables that are held with the intention of collecting contractual cash flows are 
classified and measured at amortised cost. Gains and losses are recognised in the statement of comprehensive 
income when the loans and receivables are derecognised or impaired, as well as through the amortisation 
process. 

17.

BORROWINGS 

Shareholder Loans

Convertible unsecured loan note

CONVERTIBLE LOAN NOTE

Liability brought forward

Loan notes issued

Loan notes converted

Loan notes transferred to equity

Liability at 31 December

2018
£

–

–

–

2018
£

162,437

550,000

(712,437)

–

–

2017 
£ 

48,897 

162,437 

211,334 

2017 
£ 

– 

550,000 

(275,000) 

(112,563) 

162,437 

253353 Tern AR pp38-end.qxp  21/03/2019  12:26  Page 53

53

Notes to the Financial Statements 
For the year ended 31 December 2018

17.

BORROWINGS (continued) 

SHAREHOLDER LOANS

Liability brought forward

Loan notes converted

Interest charge

Liability at 31 December

18.

SHARE BASED PAYMENTS 

2018
£

48,897

(48,897)

–

–

2017 
£ 

104,440 

(55,336) 

(207) 

48,897 

OPTIONS 
The Company operates an equity settled share based remuneration scheme for directors, employees and 
advisors.  Under  the  director  and  employees’  scheme  issued  during  the  year,  options  may  be  granted  to 
purchase shares which must be exercised within ten years from the date of the grant. 

The options are capable of exercise on the third anniversary of the grant date according to the increase in 
share price on the vesting date. If the share price increased by 100% then 100% of the shares vest and if 
there has been no increase in share price, then 0% of the shares vest. Between these two points the options 
will vest on a straight-line basis. As at 31 December 2018, all options had vested. 

Under the previous scheme, which is still in place for the non-executive director and previous directors, shares 
were  granted  which  must  be  exercised  within  seven  years  from  the  date  of  grant.  These  options  vest 
immediately on issue.  

In 2015 and 2017 share options were issued to a professional adviser as part of their fees. Under the advisors’ 
scheme options may be granted to purchase shares which must be exercised within five years or ten years  
from the date of grant. The advisor options are fully vested. 

The Black Scholes method was used to calculate the fair value of the director and employees’ scheme to 
calculate the fair value of options at the date of grant.  

The table below lists the inputs to the model used for the options granted in 2017: 

Stock price

Strike price

Expected volatility

Time to maturity in years

Binomial steps

Directors 

2.5 pence 

8.5 pence 

100% 

3 

20 

A total share based payment charge of £165,267 was expensed in 2018 (2017: £118,048) in respect of the 
options granted, of this £165,267 (2017: £118,048) related to equity settled options issued to directors in 2017. 

253353 Tern AR pp38-end.qxp  21/03/2019  12:26  Page 54

54

Notes to the Financial Statements 
For the year ended 31 December 2018

18.

SHARE BASED PAYMENTS (continued) 

The share options held as at 31 December 2018 are set out in the table below: 

Outstanding at

Granted Exercised

31 December during the during the during the
year

2017

year

year

Lapsed Outstanding at Option Exercisable 
on or 
before 

31 December
2018

Price

Directors

7,500,000

250,000

Total Directors

7,750,000

Other

900,000

200,000

250,000

Total Options

9,100,000

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

100,000

–

100,000

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

7,500,000

8.5p 18 May 2027 

250,000

13p 22 Feb 2023 

7,750,000 

900,000

100,000

250,000

9,000,000 

9p 15 Feb 2022 

8.5p 18 May 2027 

15p 16 Dec 2020 

Note: A detailed breakdown of directors’ options is set out in the Report on Directors’ Remuneration. 

19. WARRANTS 

On 7 October 2016, 18,214,277 warrants were issued on a one for every two shares to subscribers in the 
fundraising round on that date. In that round, 36,428,557 shares were issued at 7p per share. The warrants 
were exercisable at 12p per share at any time prior to 12 April 2018. None of these warrants were exercised 
during the year and lapsed on 12 April 2018. 

The number of warrants outstanding at 31 December 2018 was as follows: 

Date of
issue

At 31 Dec
2017

Issued

Exercised

Lapsed

At 31 Dec
2018

Exercise Exercisable 
on or 
Price per
before 
share

07.10.16 18,214,277

18,214,277

–

–

–

–

18,214,277

18,214,277

–

–

12.0p

12.04.18 

20.

RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS 

Device Authority Limited, a company in which Tern has a controlling shareholding, is also considered a related 
party.  During  the  year  Tern  invoiced  Device  Authority  Limited  £20,000  (2017:  £20,000)  in  respect  of 
management services. At the year-end Tern was owed £36,000 in trade receivables by Device Authority Limited 
(2017: £12,000). Tern has also provided a convertible loan note to Device Authority Limited. As at 31 December 
2018, £1,270,753 was outstanding (2017: £382,436).  

flexiOPS Limited, a company wholly owned by Tern, is also considered a related party. During the year Tern 
invoiced flexiOPS £30,000 (2017: £60,000) in respect of management services. As at 31 December 2018 Tern 
was owed £nil in trade receivables by flexiOPS Limited. Tern has also provided a working capital loan to 
flexiOPS Limited. As at 31 December 2018, £165,000 was outstanding (2017: £20,000). 

InVMA Limited, a company in which Tern has a 50% shareholding, is also considered a related party. During 
the year, Tern invoiced InVMA Limited £39,700 (2017: £67,651) in respect of management services. As at 
31 December 2018, Tern was owed £2,958 in trade receivables by InVMA Limited. 

FVRVS Limited, a company in which Tern has a 34.7% shareholding, is also considered a related party. During 
the year, Tern invoiced FVRVS Limited £19,249 (2017: nil) in respect of legal services. There were no amounts 
outstanding to or from the company at 31 December 2018. 

 
  
253353 Tern AR pp38-end.qxp  21/03/2019  12:26  Page 55

55

Notes to the Financial Statements 
For the year ended 31 December 2018

20.

RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS (continued) 

During the year, Alan Howarth & Associates Limited, a company in which Alan Howarth has a controlling 
shareholding, invoiced the Company £24,000 for management services (2017: £23,250). There were no 
amounts outstanding to or from the company at 31 December 2018. 

Some of the executive directors made payments of £27,950 in total to the Company in respect of tax liabilities 
resulting from gains accrued on the conversion of directors’ convertible loan notes.  

21.

CASH FLOW FROM OPERATIONS 

Loss for the year

Adjustments for items not included in cash flow:

Movement in fair value of investments

Share based payment charge

Transaction costs associated with convertible loan note

Discount on issue of convertible loan note

Interest income accrued

Finance expense

Finance income

2018
£

2017 
£ 

(312,564)

(1,689,555) 

(775,910)

165,267

55,000

110,000

(71,209)

–

(3,450)

757,705 

118,048 

– 

– 

– 

207 

(1,020) 

Operating cash flows before movements in working capital

(832,866)

(814,615) 

Adjustments for changes in working capital:

(Increase)/decrease in trade and other receivables1

Increase/(decrease) in trade and other payables

Cash used in operations

1 Excludes loans to investee companies 

22.

OPERATING LEASE COMMITMENTS 

Lease payments under operating leases recognised 
as an expense in the year

100,233

(19,717)

(73,898) 

104,647 

(772,350)

(783,866) 

Year to
31 Dec 2018
£

Year to 
31 Dec 2017 
£ 

42,855

18,600 

At the year end date, the Group had outstanding commitments for future minimum lease payments under 
non-cancellable leases which fall due as follows: 

Land and Buildings: 

Within one year

31 Dec 2018
£

31 Dec 2017 
£ 

27,181

26,040 

  
  
253353 Tern AR pp38-end.qxp  21/03/2019  12:26  Page 56

56

Notes to the Financial Statements 
For the year ended 31 December 2018

23.

FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS 

The Group uses financial instruments, other than derivatives, comprising cash to provide funding for the 
Group’s operations. 

CATEGORIES OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS 
The IFRS 9 categories of financial asset included in the statement of financial position and the headings in 
which they are included are as follows: 

FINANCIAL ASSETS: 

Cash at bank

Financial instruments at amortised cost 

Trade receivables

Loans

Other receivables

Fair value through profit or loss (FVTPL) 

Investments

2018 
£ 

1,913,801 

38,958 

165,000 

12,348 

14,856,239 

The IAS 39 categories of financial asset included in the statement of financial position and the headings in 
which they were included in 2017 are as follows: 

FINANCIAL ASSETS: 

Cash and bank balances

Loans and receivables 

Loans

Other receivables

Fair value through income statement 

Investments held for trading

2017 
£ 

273,826 

402,436 

168,730 

10,218,625 

253353 Tern AR pp38-end.qxp  21/03/2019  12:26  Page 57

57

Notes to the Financial Statements 
For the year ended 31 December 2018

23.

FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS (continued) 

FINANCIAL LIABILITIES MEASURED AT AMORTISED COST: 
The IFRS 9 categories of financial liabilities included in the statement of financial position and the headings in 
which they are included are as follows: 

Trade and other payables

Accruals

Borrowings

2018 
£ 

64,370 

185,138 

– 

The IAS 39 categories of financial liabilities included in the statement of financial position and the headings in 
which they were included in 2017 are as follows: 

Trade and other payables

Accruals

Borrowings

2017 
£ 

66,299 

201,580 

211,334 

24.

EVENTS AFTER THE REPORTING PERIOD 

On 14 January 2019, $240,000 was paid to Device Authority in the form of a convertible loan note. 

On 19 February 2019, a further $160,000 was paid to Device Authority in the form of a convertible loan note. 

Providers of these loan notes were also issued with 2.6 warrants for each USD 1 of loan notes subscribed. 

25.

ULTIMATE CONTROLLING PARTY 

The directors do not consider there to be a single ultimate controlling party.

253353 Tern AR pp38-end.qxp  21/03/2019  12:26  Page 58

58

Notice of 2019 Annual General Meeting

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the 2019 Annual General Meeting of Tern plc (“the Company”) will be held at 9.30 am 
on Thursday 25 April 2019 at the offices of Reed Smith, The Broadgate Tower, 20 Primrose Street, London, EC2A 2RS 
for the following purposes: 

ORDINARY BUSINESS 
To consider, and if thought fit, to pass the following resolutions as ordinary resolutions: 

1.

2.

3.

4.

To receive and adopt the Company’s annual accounts for the financial year ended 31 December 2018, together 
with the Directors’ Report and Auditors’ Report on those accounts. 

To  re-appoint  Grant  Thornton  UK  LLP  as  auditors  to  hold  office  from  the  conclusion  of  the  meeting  to  the 
conclusion of the next meeting at which the accounts are laid before the Company at a remuneration to be 
determined by the directors. 

Sarah Payne retires by rotation, in accordance with the Articles of Association of the Company, having consented 
to be considered for re-appointment, and is hereby re-appointed as a director of the Company. 

Alan Howarth retires by rotation, in accordance with the Articles of Association of the Company, having consented 
to be considered for re-appointment, and is hereby re-appointed as a director of the Company. 

SPECIAL BUSINESS 
To consider, and if thought fit, to pass the following resolutions, of which resolution 5 will be proposed as an ordinary 
resolution and resolutions 6 and 7 will be proposed as special resolutions: 

5.

That for the purpose of section 551 of the Companies Act 2006 (the Act) the directors of the Company be and are 
hereby generally and unconditionally authorised to exercise all powers of the Company to allot equity securities 
(within the meaning of Section 560 of the Act) up to an aggregate nominal amount of £20,000 provided that this 
authority shall expire (unless previously renewed, varied or revoked by the Company in general meeting) at the 
conclusion of the next annual general meeting of the Company, save that the Company may before such expiry 
make an offer or agreement which would or might require relevant equity securities to be allotted after such expiry 
and the board may allot relevant equity securities in pursuance of such an offer or agreement as if the authority 
conferred hereby had not expired. 

This authority is in substitution for all subsisting authorities previously conferred upon the directors for the purposes 
of section 551 of the Act, without prejudice to any allotments made pursuant to the terms of such authorities. 

6.

That, subject to the passing of resolution 5 above, the directors of the Company be and are hereby empowered 
pursuant to section 570 of the Act to allot equity securities (within the meaning of section 560 of the Act) pursuant 
to the authority conferred by resolution 5 above as if section 561 of the Act did not apply to any such allotment 
provided that the power conferred by this resolution shall be limited to: 

6.1

the allotment of equity securities for cash in connection with an issue or offer of equity securities (including, 
without limitation, under a rights issue, open offer or similar arrangement) to holders of equity securities in 
proportion (as nearly as may be practicable) to their respective holdings of equity securities subject only to 
such exclusions or other arrangements as the board may consider necessary or expedient to deal with 
fractional entitlements or legal or practical problems under the laws of any territory, or the requirements of 
any regulatory body or stock exchange in any territory; and 

6.2

the allotment (otherwise than pursuant to sub-paragraph 6.1 of this resolution (6) of equity securities up to 
an aggregate nominal value of £20,000. 

The power conferred by this resolution 6 shall expire (unless previously renewed, revoked or varied by the 
Company in general meeting), at such time as the general authority conferred on the board by resolution 5 above 
expires, except that the Company may at any time before such expiry make any offer or agreement which would 
or might require equity securities to be allotted after such expiry and the directors of the Company may allot or 
sell equity securities for cash in pursuance of such an offer or agreement as if the authority conferred hereby had 
not expired.

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59

Notice of 2019 Annual General Meeting

7.

That the Company be and is hereby generally and unconditionally authorised to make market purchases (within 
the meaning of section 693(4) of the 2006 Act) of its Ordinary Shares provided that: 

7.1

the maximum number of Ordinary Shares authorised to be purchased is 10% of the entire issued share 
capital of the Company; 

7.2

the minimum price which may be paid for an Ordinary Share is £0.0002; 

7.3

7.4

7.5

the maximum price which may be paid for an Ordinary Share is an amount equal to 105% of the average 
of  the  middle-market  prices  shown  in  the  quotation  for  an  Ordinary  Share  as  derived  from  the  Stock 
Exchange Alternative Trading Service of the Stock Exchange for the 5 business days immediately preceding 
the day on which the Ordinary Share is purchased; 

the authority hereby conferred shall expire on the earlier of the date falling 15 months after the Annual 
General Meeting or on the conclusion of the next annual general meeting of the Company to be held in 
2019; and 

the Company may make a contract to purchase its Ordinary Shares under the authority hereby conferred 
prior to the expiry of such authority, which contract will or may be executed wholly or partly after the expiry 
of such contract. 

By Order of the Board  
Sarah Payne, 
Company Secretary  
18 March 2019 

Notes to the AGM notice 

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

In accordance with Regulation 41 of the Uncertificated Securities Regulations 2001 and by paragraph 18(c) of 
The Companies Act (Consequential Amendments) (Uncertificated Securities) Order 2009, only those members 
entered on the Company’s register of members not later than 9.30 am on 23 April 2019, or if the meeting is 
adjourned, Shareholders entered on the Company’s register of members not later than 2 days before the time 
fixed for the adjourned meeting (excluding non-business days) shall be entitled to attend and vote at the meeting. 

A member of the Company entitled to attend and vote at this meeting is entitled to appoint a proxy (or proxies) to 
attend, speak and vote in his place. A proxy need not be a member of the Company. You can only appoint a proxy 
using the procedures set out in these notes and the notes to the Form of Proxy. 

To be effective, the Form of Proxy must be deposited at the office of the Company’s registrars, Share Registrars 
Limited, The Courtyard, 17 West Street, Farnham, Surrey, GU9 7DR so as to be received not later than 9.30 am 
on 23 April 2019, or if the meeting is adjourned, not later than 48 hours before the time fixed for the adjourned 
meeting. 

To change your proxy instructions simply submit a new proxy appointment using the methods set out above and 
in the notes to the Form of Proxy. Note that the cut-off times for receipt of proxy appointments (see above) also 
apply in relation to amended instructions; any amended proxy appointment received after the relevant cut-off 
time will be disregarded. 

Where you have appointed a proxy and would like to change the instructions, please contact the Company’s 
registrars, Share Registrars Limited, The Courtyard, 17 West Street, Farnham, Surrey, GU9 7DR. 

In order to revoke a proxy instruction you will need to inform the Company by sending a signed hard copy notice 
clearly stating your intention to revoke your proxy appointment to the Company’s registrars, Share Registrars 
Limited, The Courtyard, 17 West Street, Farnham, Surrey, GU9 7DR. In the case of a member which is a company, 
the revocation notice must be executed under its common seal or signed on its behalf by an officer of the company 
or an attorney for the company. Any power of attorney or any other authority under which the revocation notice 
is signed (or a duly certified copy of such power or authority) must be included with the revocation notice. 

In either case, the revocation notice must be received by the Company’s registrars, Share Registrars Limited, 
The Courtyard, 17 West Street, Farnham, Surrey, GU9 7DR no later than 9.30 am on 23 April 2019. 

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Notice of 2019 Annual General Meeting

If you attempt to revoke your proxy appointment but the revocation is received after the time specified above, 
then your proxy appointment will remain valid. 

Appointment of a proxy does not preclude you from attending the Meeting and voting in person. If you have 
appointed a proxy and attend the Meeting in person, your proxy appointment will automatically be terminated. 

6.

CREST members who wish to appoint a proxy or proxies by utilising the CREST electronic proxy appointment 
service may do so by utilising the procedures described in the CREST Manual. CREST Personal Members or 
other CREST sponsored members, and those CREST members who have appointed a voting service provider(s), 
should refer to their CREST sponsor or voting service provider(s), who will be able to take the appropriate action 
on their behalf. 

In  order  for  a  proxy  appointment  made  by  means  of  CREST  to  be  valid,  the  appropriate  CREST  message 
(a ‘CREST Proxy Instruction’) must be properly authenticated in accordance with CRESTCo’s specifications and 
must contain the information required for such instructions, as described in the CREST Manual. The message, 
regardless of whether it relates to the appointment of a proxy or to an amendment to the instruction given to a 
previously appointed proxy must, in order to be valid, be transmitted so as to be received by our agent Share 
Registrars (ID 7RA36) by the latest time(s) for receipt of proxy appointments specified in the notice of meeting. 
For this purpose, the time of receipt will be taken to be the time (as determined by the timestamp applied to the 
message by the CREST Applications Host) from which the issuer’s agent is able to retrieve the message by 
enquiry to CREST in the manner prescribed by CREST. The Company may treat as invalid a CREST Proxy 
Instruction in the circumstances set out in Regulation 35(5)(a) of the Uncertificated Securities Regulations 2001. 

CREST members and, where applicable, their CREST sponsors or voting service providers should note that 
CRESTCo does not make available special procedures in CREST for any particular messages. Normal system 
timings  and  limitations  will  therefore  apply  in  relation  to  the  input  of  CREST  Proxy  Instructions.  It  is  the 
responsibility of the CREST member concerned to take (or, if the CREST member is a CREST personal member 
or sponsored member or has appointed a voting service provider(s), to procure that his CREST sponsor or voting 
service provider(s) take(s)) such action as shall be necessary to ensure that a message is transmitted by means 
of the CREST system by any particular time. In this connection, CREST members and, where applicable, their 
CREST sponsors or voting service providers are referred, in particular, to those sections of the CREST Manual 
concerning practical limitations of the CREST system and timings. 

253353 Tern AR ifc and imp.qxp  21/03/2019  12:13  Page 2

Perivan Financial Print  253353

Report & 
Accounts

For the year ended 
31 December 2018

27/28 Eastcastle Street 
London W1W 8DH

e: info@ternplc.com
t: 020 3807 0222
ternplc.com